top of page

AP World History

Unit 1: c. 1200-1450

The Global Tapestry

Main Ideas of the Unit:

  • Throughout the world, religion played an important role in politically unifying certain regions and kingdoms

​

  • As kingdoms grew larger & started bordering each other, they fostered cultural & trade relations with each other

Topic 1:

Developments in East Asia

Main Ideas of the Topic

  • Song Dynasty used traditional Confucian methods to create an imperial bureaucracy to maintain its rule

​

  • Chinese culture flourished & shaped neighboring regions' cultures (Korea, Japan, Vietnam, etc.)

​

  • Buddhism spread to East Asia & influenced a variety of schools & practices

​

  • Song Dynasty's economy flourished & became more commercialized → More trade with South & Southeast Asia

Topic 2:

Developments in the Dar al-Islam

Main Ideas of the Topic

  • Muslim empires (such as Abbasid Caliphate) had many intellectual innovations (especially in science & math)

​

  • Islam spread throughout Afro-Eurasia via to merchants & missionaries (especially Sufis)

​

  • Trade flourished due to Middle East's prime location

​

  • Many commercial innovations helped boost trade

Topic 3:

Developments in South & Southeast Asia

Main Ideas of the Topic

  • States in South & Southeast Asia remained stable based on their state religion and the Indian Ocean Trade Route

​

  • Indian cultural traditions & religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam) shaped Southeast Asian kingdoms​

Topic 4:

Developments in the Americas

Main Ideas of the Topic

  • Kingdoms used religion to unify their population

​

  • Had social hierarchies with religious and political rulers at the top, and agricultural laborers at the bottom​

​

  • Developed unique ways to maintain control of their empires

Topic 5:

Developments in Africa

Main Ideas of the Topic

  • Kingdoms & merchants adopted Islam (but still retained their indigenous beliefs) to have better relations with Islamic merchants

​

  • Religion was defined on a local scale and supported the kinship model of African society​​

Topic 6:

Developments in Europe

Main Ideas of the Topic

  • Western Europe was politically fragmented with feudalism and decentralized monarchies

​

  • The Catholic Church (centered in Rome) was the main source of unity throughout Western Europe

​

  • As monarchies started centralizing, more people moved to the cities, sparking a commercial revolution

bottom of page