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Explore the significance of primary sources, challenge biases, and rethink historical dating systems. Understand themes, periods, and habits of mind in AP World History for a true global understanding.
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Themes & Skills in AP World History “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.”Chinese Proverb
What Historians “Do” • Describe and interpret the past using primary source documents and artifacts • Biases get in the way • Let’s take Columbus for example… • Historical revision – events do not change, but the way we look at them does • Historians used to neglect artifacts from China; upon further study they reveal that a millennium ago China had the world’s most dynamic economy and sophisticated technology
Why study World History? • Each nation, culture, civilization develops in the context of a wider world • This has become even more so today • Events in one hemisphere can affect life in another
Rethinking the Dating System • All dating systems are based on the assumptions of a particular culture • The dating system used throughout the Western world is based on the Gregorian Christian calendar, created by a 16th century pope, Gregory XIII • It uses the birth of Jesus as the turning point (A.D. – anno domini, “in the year of our Lord”)
Rethinking the Dating System • Recently historians have moved toward a more secular concept, the Common Era, since many influential, dynamic societies existed two millennia ago • B.C.E. – Before Common Era • C.E. – Common Era
Periodization • Process of dividing time • 100,000 – 600 BCE – Ancient • 600 BCE – 600 CE – Classical • 600 – 1500 – Intermediate • 1450 – 1750 – Early Modern • 1750 – 1945 – Modern • 1945 – present - Contemporary
Official APWH Themes • What happens when people come in contact with each other? (encounter / interaction) • Why and in what ways do some things change while other things stay the same? • How does the development of new technology and movement of people affect the world?
Official APWH Themes • How do societies organize themselves socially and what roles do men and women play? • How do people identify themselves and express themselves culturally and intellectually? What is the impact of ideas? • How do people govern themselves?
APWH Habits of Mind • general history methodologies • Using evidence to make plausible arguments (primary documents) • Using documents to analyze point of view • Explaining why some things change and some things stay the same • Understanding different points of view in documents and other evidence
So what should I expect? • A challenge! • You must read! • Lots of document analysis • Always think of encounter / interaction, change and continuity, & comparisons • A TRUE global understanding