AP World History Course Description - Howard High

AP World History Class Expectations
We want to welcome you to AP World History and we are excited that you are
up to the challenge of a college level curriculum. AP world history covers the time
period c.8000 B.C.E. – 2010 C.E.. The history of the major regions of the world
including North America, Latin America, Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa, South
Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia will be covered as we journey through the time
period. The course moves at a rapid pace and typically requires a minimum of five
hours outside of class in self-study/preparation per week. The goal of the class is to
have students earn college credits, receive a 5 on the AP exam, and have the
opportunity to participate in a college level course in high school. It is our policy at
Howard High School that all students taking the course sit for the AP exam in May. If
students do not take the official AP world history exam they will take an alternate AP
exam that will be counted as part of their 4 th quarter grade.
Assignments:
Students can expect the following types of assignments throughout the year:
Outside readings beyond the textbook
Timed and non-timed essay writing
Weekly notes/outlines (SEE ATTACHED READING ASSIGNMENTS)
Quizzes and unit tests
Projects
Presentations
Global events journals
Discussions
Lectures
AP EXAM FORMAT
55 Minutes - 70 Multiple Choice
50 Minutes - Document Based Question
40 Minutes - Change Over Time Essay
40 Minutes - Comparative Essay
Six overarching themes will be highlighted throughout this course:
1. Patterns and impacts of interaction among major societies: trade, war, diplomacy, and international
organizations.
2. The relationship of change and continuity across periods of world history covered.
3. Impact of technology and demography on people and the environment (population growth and decline,
disease, manufacturing, migrations, agricultue, weaponry).
4. Systems of social structure and gender structure (comparing major features within and among societies and
assessing change).
5. Cultural and intellectual developments and interactions among and within societies.
6. Changes in functions and strutures of states in in attitudes toward states and political identities (political
structure), including the emergence of the nation-state (types of political organization).

Textbook Reading Schedule:
This is a copy of the 2010 - 2011 reading schedule. Typically students will have
one week to read and take notes on a chapter. The reading schedule acts as a
good guide for the topics covered during the year.
Textbook Chapters:
Due:
Chapter 1 From Human Prehistory to the early Civilizations 9/9
Chapter 2 Classical Civilization in China 10/8
Chapter 3 Classical Civilization in India 10/8
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Classical Civilization in Greece and Rome
The Classical Period: Directions, Diversities
10/8
10/8
and Declines 10/29
Chapter 6 The Rise and Spread of Islam 10/29
Chapter 7 The Spread of Islamic Civilization to South 10/29
and Southeast Asia
Chapter 8 African Civilizations: The Spread of Islam 10/29
Chapter 9 Civilizations in Eastern Europe: Byzantium 11/23
and Orthodox Europe
Chapter 10 A New Civilization Emerges in Western Europe 11/23
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
The Americas on the Eve of Invasion
Reunion and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization
11/23
12/21
Chapter 13 The Spread of Chinese Civilization 12/21
Chapter 14 The Last Great Nomadic Challenges 12/21
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
The West and the Changing World Balance
The World Economy
12/21
1/14
Chapter 17 The Transformation of the West 1/14
Chapter 18 The Rise of Russia 1/14
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Early Latin America
Africa in the Age of the Atlantic Slave Trade
2/14
2/14
Chapter 21 The Muslim Empires 2/14
Chapter 22 Asian Transitions in an Age of Global Change 2/14
Chapter 23 The Emergence of Industrial Society 2/25
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Industrialization and Imperialism
The Consolidation of Latin America
2/25
3/10
Chapter 26 Civilizations in Crisis 3/10
Chapter 27 Russia and Japan Industrialize 3/10
Chapter 28 World War I 3/25
Chapter 29 The World in the 1920’s 3/25
Chapter 30 The Great Depression and the Authoritarian Responses 3/25
Chapter 31 A Second Global Conflict 4/05
Chapter 32 The Cold War 4/05
Chapter 33 Revolution and Reaction in Latin America 4/15
Chapter34 The Era of Independence 4/15
Chapter 35 Nation Building in East Asia and the Pacific Rim 5/2
Chapter 36 Globalization and Resistance 5/2