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The study of European history since 1450 introduces students to cultural, economic, political, and social developments that played a fundamental role in shaping the world in which they live. Without this knowledge, we would lack the context for understanding the development of contemporary institutions, the role of continuity and change in present-day society and politics, and the evolution of current forms of artistic expression and intellectual discourse. In addition to providing a basic narrative of events and movements, the goals of the AP program in European History are to develop (a) an understanding of some of the principal themes in modern European History, (b) an ability to analyze historical evidence and historical interpretation, and (c) an ability to express historical understanding in writing.

This introductory survey course will familiarize students with major themes and historical events in the Western World from the 1500s to the twenty-first century. Students will analyze the major forces, ideas, and institutions which influenced the peoples of the world and examine the impact of Western cultural imperialism. In this course students will learn to think critically about historical events and how they are interpreted to better understand the relationship between historical events and contemporary interpretations of those events. Students will located and evaluate primary and secondary texts and use them to write critically about history. Course Objectives Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to: (1) Define key historical moments from the 1500s to the twenty-first century which influenced people and events. (2) Explain how and why conflict arose across political, religious, economic, and socio-cultural boundaries. (3) Describe how history can change depending on when and by whom the history is written. (4) Analyze the creation of "modernity" and the disempowerment of non-Western peoples. (5) Illustrate the difference between types of historical sources and how they are used to write academic history.