Summer Assignment for AP European History, 2013-2014
Textbook: Western Civilization, 6th Edition, by Jackson Spielvogel. Available in SMHS textbook room/library.
AP Students,
Welcome to AP Euro. Because this course spans 550 years of history, you will have some work to do this summer. This assignment
is due in hand on the first day of class, and will be worth 3 homework assignments. See Mr. Ortega or Mr. Teague with any problems.
Do
Don’t
-Read every word assigned.
-Don’t copy word for word.
-Start and stop reading in logical places, using the sections. For
-Don’t look up every single word you don’t understand
example, start with “Athens” on p. 61 and finish on p. 62 by reading
or get intimidated by the text.
about Cleisthenes.
-Don’t share answers with your friends.
-Read the document inserts and study the maps and other visuals.
-Don’t use any other source, such as the internet.
-Make sure you understand the reading enough so that you can
-Don’t worry about anything that’s not on this
answer the questions.
assignment page, from what materials you need in class
-Answer the questions completely. If you read a page and there are
to whether you should type it or hand-write it.
5 facts relevant to the question, note all of them.
-Don’t even think about cheating.
Chapters 3 and 5, The Classical World
61-2, 71-4, 110-12, 129-30 Greek and Roman Art, Literature and Law
1. In what ways was Ancient Athens (Greece) an imperfect political system?
2. Herodotus, Thucydides, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes were all important. Generally, what can be said about
Ancient Greek thought?
3. Make a chart for Greek architecture and sculpture. What is the A) form and B) content of each?
4. A democracy/republic is one in which the people rule. Make a chart in which you give 5 reasons why the Romans were actually
democratic, and 5 for why their democracy was less than perfect.
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of Julius Caesar’s rule.
Chapters 9-11, The High and Later Middle Ages (Medieval Period)
228-32 Agriculture, Peasantry, Aristocracy
6. During the High Middle Ages, what would be the advantages and disadvantages of being a farmer?
7. Explain the ways in which the aristocracy and peasantry were dependent upon one another.
235-8 Trade and Cities
8. Historians have described this period as the birth of commercial capitalism (a thriving system of free trade). How would this
event/time period later benefit Europe?
9. What was the bourgeoisie? Why might they envy the aristocracy and be the envy of the peasantry?
241-2 Guilds
10. What is a guild and what would be its purpose?
244-7 Scholasticism
11. What sources influenced European thinkers in the High Middle Ages?
12. Define Scholasticism in your own words. On what issues might Peter Abelard and Thomas Aquinas agree or disagree?
248-51 Romanesque and Gothic architecture
13. Architecture changed from Romanesque to Gothic. How does this shift reflect the changes in society?
268-74 The Catholic Church
14. Draw a diagram of the power structure within the Catholic Church. List some people who would never be included in this power
structure.
15. Pope Innocent III and St. Francis of Assisi were very different men. What does each tell us about the Catholic Church?
16. What were some basic practices of Catholics in the High Middle Ages?
284-9 The Plague
17. Note 10 facts of interest about the plague.
301-2 Great Schism
18. Were the reasons for the Great Schism primarily political or religious? Explain.
304-6 Medieval Literature
19. Rank each of the five authors discussed here in terms of their importance. Which one work would you most like to read? Why?
308-10 Medicine and Inventions
20. Make a chart with 4 sections. What were the medical practices and inventions of the past, and what are their counterparts today?