Advanced Placement European History
Course Description and Philosophy
Advanced Placement European History is comparable in scope and challenge to a college level
survey course in Early Modern and Modern European History. Its principal aim is to provide students
an interdisciplinary opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the chronology, major trends and current
streams of historiography in Western Civilization. Starting with the Middle Ages, the course will finish
covering trends in the Contemporary period.
This course is intended for honors level students. Greater student responsibility, writing and critical
thinking will be stressed. Furthermore, another aim of the course is to prepare students for the
nationally administered Advanced Placement European History test for which students may be
awarded college credit.
Evaluation of studentsʼ performance will be based on unit tests, homework, essays, document based
questions, presentations, quizzes and class participation. In addition there will be a midterm
examination and a final examination.
Text Reference:
•
Spielvogel, Jackson. Western Civilization (4th Ed.). New York: Wadsworth, 2000.
Written 2005.
Unit I: Europe in the Middle Ages (before 1350)
Essential Question: Why were the Middle Ages such a critical formative period for Western civilization?
Objectives: Students will be able to:
Explain the reasons for the importance of the Catholic Church.
Describe the social, political and economic aspects of feudalism.
Describe the status of women during the era.
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Describe the development of trade and growth of cities.
Evaluate the causation and outcomes of the Crusades.
Explain the causes and outcomes of the conciliar movement
Describe the intellectual trends of the Middle Ages.
Describe the development of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
Describe the holistic effects of the plague.
Evaluate the importance of the Hundred Yearsʼ War.
Identify the map of Europe before 1350.
2
Topic/Content Skills
Topic 1: Medieval mindset
• Feudalism
• Omnipotence of the Church
Assessment
Resources
Instructional Method Tech Infusion
NJCCCS: Unit I
Test/Quizzes
Essays
Participation
Homework
Text
Readings
Laserdisc
iBooks
Media Center
Lecture
Discussion
Small Group Work
Individual Research
6.3, C-7.
Internet Research
PowerPoint Report
iBooks/Probes
VCR/Smartboard
Topic 2: Events of Middle Ages
• Conciliar movement
• Hundred Yearsʼ War: causes and outcomes
• Revival of Trade
• Crusades
• Black Death
Topic 3: Culmination of Middle Ages
• Reforms
• Changes in Architecture
• Social changes
• Nexus for the future.
Differentiated Learning Activities
Role-playing, supplemental readings and in-class discussions.
Ethical Decision Making/Character Education
How are the social problems of the Middle Ages similar to the ones faced in our present day?
Unit II: Europe during the Renaissance and Reformation. (1350-1550)
Essential Question: Why was the Renaissance such an important period for European development?
How did the Reformation threaten to destroy the progress of European civilization?
Objectives: Students will be able to:
Define characteristics of the Renaissance
Describe regional differences of the movement
List major works of art, literature and architecture of the Renaissance
Identify areas of geographic importance.
Describe course of humanism
List motivations of Martin Luther
Analyze causes of the Reformation & actions of Catholic Reformation
Describe the various sects of Protestantism.
3
Topic/Content Skills
Topic 1: Intro. To Renaissance
• Causes and Geography
• Hallmarks
Assessment
Resources
Instructional Method Tech Infusion
NJCCCS: Unit II
Test/Quizzes
Essays
Participation
Homework
Text
Readings
Laserdisc
iBooks
Media Center
Lecture
Discussion
Small Group Work
Individual Research
6.3; D-3, 4, 6.
Topic 2: Italian Renaissance
• Causes
• Art and Culture
• Philosophy and Government
• Italian Humanism
• Florence: Cradle of the Renaissance.
Topic 3: Northern Renaissance
• Hallmarks/differences
• Thomas More and philosophers
• Art and the Artist
• Northern Humanism
Topic 4: Reformation
• Causes
• Martin Lutherʼs tenets
• Spread and Geography
• John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli
• Forms of Protestantism
• Political ramifications.
Topic 5: Catholic Reformation
• Causes and effects
• Ways of resistance
• Baroque and attempts at rebuilding.
• Nexus with next period
Differentiated Learning Activities
Supplemental readings, in-class discussions and role playing.
4
Internet Research
Laserdisc Player
PowerPoint Report
iBooks/Probes
VCR/Smartboard
Ethical Decision Making/Character Education
Should religion play any role in state affairs?
Unit III: Age of Religious Wars and Absolutism
Essential Question: Was the century of religious warfare beneficial to European society?
Why was absolutism such an important development to Western Civilization?
Objectives: Students will be able to:
Describe how France changed during the era
Describe the Dutch Revolt
Explain the causes of the Thirty Yearsʼ War
Analyze the Peace of Westphalia
Identify the various justifications of absolutism
Define what characterizes absolutism.
Describe the theses of political philosophers.
Describe the development of England in the 17th Century
Define “Enlightened Absolutism”
Describe the contributions of enlightened monarchs.
5
Topic/Content Skills
Topic 1: Religious Wars
• Impact geographically
• War of 3 Henrys
• Dutch Revolt
• Thirty Yearsʼ War
Assessment
Resources
Instructional Method Tech Infusion
NJCCCS: Unit III
Test/Quizzes
Text
Lecture
Internet Research
6.3; D- 4, 6.
Essays
Participation
Homework
Readings
Laserdisc
iBooks
Media Center
Discussion
Small Group Work
Individual Research
Laserdisc Player
PowerPoint Report
iBooks/Probes
VCR/Smartboard
Topic 2: Absolutism
• Aspects
• Hobbes and Bousset
• John Lockeʼs “Social Contract”
• Louis XIVʼs France
Topic 3: Enlightened Absolutism
• Aspects
• Prussia-Frederick Wilhelm I
• Austrian Empire- Maria Teresa
• Russia- Peter the Great
Topic 4: English Civil War and Constitutionalism
• Rule of the Stuarts
• English Civil War
• Protectorate
• Glorious Revolution and saliency
• Tenets of Constitutionalism
Differentiated Learning Activities
Supplemental readings, role-playing and discussions.
Ethical Decision Making/Character Education
When is revolution against the state justified?
6
Unit IV: Age of Discovery and the Price Revolution
Essential Question: How and why was the 16th and 17th Century a time of economic and social change?
Objectives: Students will be able to:
Define the timeframe for the discoveries and establishment of colonies.
Describe the motivations for exploration.
List the new technologies utilized.
Identify representation for various explorations.
Identify areas of colonization.
Describe costs and benefits to exploration.
Explain impact of European contact on non-Western areas.
Describe the economic saliency of new colonies.
Define the term “price revolution”
Describe the impact upon European business, cities and population.
Explain the policy of mercantilism.
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Topic/Content Skills
Topic 1: Age of Discovery
• Causes
• Technology
• Geography
Assessment
Resources
Instructional Method Tech Infusion
NJCCCS: Unit IV
Test/Quizzes
Text
Lecture
Internet Research
6.3; D-6.
Essays
Participation
Homework
Readings
Laserdisc
iBooks
Media Center
Discussion
Small Group Work
Individual Research
Laserdisc Player
PowerPoint Report
iBooks/Probes
VCR/Smartboard
Topic 2: Explorers and conquests
• Portuguese
• English
• Dutch
• French
• Spanish
Topic 3: Price Revolution
• Economic benefits
• Social effects
• Controversy
• Impact of religion
• Demographics
• Mercantilism
Differentiated Learning Activities
Role-playing, discussions and supplemental readings.
Ethical Decision Making/Character Education
Should religion have masked the true motivations of European explorations?
Unit V: The Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment
Essential Question: How did the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment change Europeans worldview?
Objectives: Students will be able to:
Describe the background to the Scientific Revolution.
Define the concept of the Scientific Revolution.
Identify the major scientific contributions of various Europeans.
Describe the changing view of women.
Analyze the changing view of religion.
Explain the methods of the scientific method
Define the concept of the Enlightenment
Describe the impact of the Enlightenment on Western civilization
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Topic/Content Skills
Assessment
Resources
Instructional Method Tech Infusion
NJCCCS: Unit V
Test/Quizzes
Essays
Participation
Homework
Text
Readings
Laserdisc
iBooks
Media Center
Lecture
Discussion
Small Group Work
Individual Research
6.3; D- 4, 5,6.
Internet Research
Laserdisc Player
PowerPoint Report
iBooks/Probes
VCR/Smartboard
Topic 1: The Scientific Revolution
• Origins
• Thinkers
• Medieval worldview
• New worldview
• Relationship with religion
• Social history
• View of humanity
Topic 2: The Enlightenment
• Origins
• Nexus with the Scientific Revolution
• The Philosophes
• Range of the Enlightenment
• Enlightenment and the state
• Worldview of the Enlightenment
Differentiated Learning Activities
Discussions, role-playing and discussions.
Ethical Decision Making/Character Education
What is the balance between religion and science drawn?
Unit VI: The “Dual Revolution”: French Revolution and Industrial Revolution
Essential Question: How and why did this era usher in the “modern” European history?
Objectives: Students will be able to:
Describe the problems of the Old Regime
Explain the variations during among the phases during the revolution.
Describe the development of liberalism, nationalism and quasi-socialism from the revolution.
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Explain Europeʼs reaction to Napoleon
Describe Napoleonʼs impact on Europe.
Describe the triumph of conservatism after 1815
Analyze the Revolutions of 1848
Describe the development of the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain
Analyze the changes to production and business.
Describe demographic and social changes during the period.
List demands and reforms for working conditions.
Discuss the theses of Malthus, Smith and Marx
Analyze the correlation between Romanticism and change within Europe.
10
Topic/Content Skills
Assessment
Resources
Instructional Method Tech Infusion
NJCCCS: Unit VI
Test/Quizzes
Essays
Participation
Homework
Text
Readings
Laserdisc
iBooks
Media Center
Lecture
Discussion
Small Group Work
Individual Research
6.3; E- 1,2.
Topic 1: French Revolution
• Old Regime structure and problems
• Tenets of the revolution
• Liberal phase
• The Terror
• Thermidorean reaction
• Directory
• Social impacts of revolution
• Napoleon and legacy
th
Topic2: Ideologies of the 19 Century
• Aftermath and triumph of Conservatism
• Nationalism
• Socialism: Fourier and Marx
• Congress of Vienna
• Revolutions of 1830/1848
• Romanticism
Topic 3: Industrial Revolution
• Tenets of industrialization
• Technology and motivations
• Capitalism: Adam smith
• The “Dismal Science”: Malthus and Ricardo
• Social impact
• Government involvement?
• Reform and the Chartist movement
• Demographics and the new middle class.
Differentiated Learning Activities
Role-playing, discussion and supplemental readings.
11
Internet Research
Laserdisc Player
PowerPoint Report
iBooks/Probes
VCR/Smartboard
Ethical Decision Making/Character Education
Where should business draw the line between exploitation and profitability?
Unit VII: Age of Modernity
Essential Question: How did Western Civilization become “modernized” by the start of the First World War?
Objectives: Students will be able to:
Describe the importance of the Crimean War
Explain the quest for unification in Italy and Germany
Describe the conditions in Russia and the Austrian Empire
Describe France during the Third Republic
List the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artist.
Explain how the Franco-Prussian war changed the balance of power
th
Describe the impact of self-determination in the 19 Century
Describe the cultural accomplishments in Paris and Vienna at the turn of the century
Explain the developments in irrational philosophy
Describe literary and scientific trends at the turn of the century
Explain why imperialism accelerated by 1914
Analyze the justifications, costs and benefits
Describe the impact of imperialism on Europe
12
Topic/Content Skills
Assessment
Resources
Instructional Method Tech Infusion
NJCCCS: Unit VII
Test/Quizzes
Essays
Participation
Homework
Text
Readings
Laserdisc
iBooks
Media Center
Lecture
Discussion
Small Group Work
Individual Research
6.3; E-7,F-1.
Topic 1: Age of Realism and Nationalism
• Italian and German unification
• Crimean War
• Third Republic and Franco-Prussian War
• Dual Monarchy
th
• Russia in 19 Century
• Great Britain
• The “Irish Question”
Topic 2: Social and Intellectual history
• Realism in Literature
• Science
• Irrational philosophy
• Psychology
• The Middle class
• Womenʼs roles
• Education and mass consumption
Topic 3: Imperialism
• Causes and justifications
• Geography 1880 and 1914
• Events in Africa and Asia
• Advantages and disadvantages
• Nexus with WWI
• Political ramifications
Differentiated Learning Activities
Role-playing, discussion and supplemental readings.
Ethical Decision Making/Character Education
What is the contemporary legacy of European imperialism?
13
Internet Research
Laserdisc Player
PowerPoint Report
iBooks/Probes
VCR/Smartboard
Unit VIII: The 20th Century
Essential Question: What defined the essence of Europe in the 20th Century?
Objectives: Students will be able to:
Describe the mindset of European society in 1914.
Describe the causes for WWI
Describe why Europe welcomed the onset of war
Analyze the course of the war
Analyze the effects of the Russian Revolution
Describe the effects of the Versailles Treaty
Explain intellectual trends between the wars
Describe the rise of fascism
Analyze the causes and outcomes of the Second World War
Describe the course of the Holocaust
Describe the reasons for the Cold War
List problems faced by democratic and Communist nations
Describe why the Cold War ended
Analyze trends for a unified Europe.
Topic/Content Skills
Assessment
Resources
Instructional Method Tech Infusion
NJCCCS: Unit VIII
Test/Quizzes
Term Paper
Lab Activity
Homework
Text
Lab Manual
Laserdisk
iBooks
Media Center
Lecture
Discussion
Small Group Work
Individual Research
Lab Work
6.3; F-1, 2; G-1; H-2
Lab Supplies
Topic 1: First World War
• Causes and Europeʼs reaction
• Major campaigns and Total war
• Reality of the war
• Russian Revolution and Lenin
• Why the war ended?
• Arguments over Versailles Treaty
• Flawed peace: Nexus with rise of Fascism and WWII
14
Internet Research
Laserdisk Player
PowerPoint Report
iBooks/Probes
VCR/Smartboard
Audio
Topic 2: Interwar problems
• Stalinʼs Russia
• Mussolini
• Weimar Republic: politics and culture
• Interwar art
• Mentality of Europe
• Rise of Nazis
• Aggression and appeasement
Topic 3: World War II and Cold War
• Geography of war
• Course of events within Europe
• The fate of Jews and Holocaust
• Start of the Cold War
• Hegemony: The Struggle for East/West dominance within Europe.
• Causes of the end of Communism
• Quest for a unified Europe
Differentiated Learning Activities
Supplemental readings, role-playing and discussions.
Ethical Decision Making/Character Education
Are nuclear weapons necessary? Were they necessary during the Cold War?
Should more countries have tried to intervene to prevent the Holocaust?
How realistic is a unified Europe
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