AP World History Themes
The five AP World History themes serve as unifying threads through which students can examine broader themes throughout each period. Themes also help to facilitate comparisons and aide students in understanding information as components of a broader framework.
The five AP World History themes serve as unifying threads through which students can examine broader themes throughout each period. Themes also help to facilitate comparisons and aide students in understanding information as components of a broader framework.
Theme 1: Interaction between humans and the environment
Demography and disease
Migration
Patterns of settlement
Technology
Migration
Patterns of settlement
Technology
Theme 2: Cultural (Development and interaction of cultures)
Religions
Belief systems, philosophies, and ideologies
Science and technology
The arts and architecture
Belief systems, philosophies, and ideologies
Science and technology
The arts and architecture
Theme 3: Political (State-building, expansion and conflict)
Political structures and forms of governance
Empires
Nations and nationalism
Revolts and revolutions
Regional, transregional, and global structures and organizations
Empires
Nations and nationalism
Revolts and revolutions
Regional, transregional, and global structures and organizations
Theme 4: Economic (Creation, expansions and interaction of economic systems)
Agriculture and pastoral production
Trade and commerce
Labor systems
Industrialization
Capitalism and socialism
Trade and commerce
Labor systems
Industrialization
Capitalism and socialism
Theme 5: Social (Development and transformation of social structures)
Gender roles and relations
Family and kinship
Racial and ethnic constructions
Social and economic classes
Family and kinship
Racial and ethnic constructions
Social and economic classes