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AP® European History

This Advanced Placement AP European course is equivalent to a first semester, college-level introductory European History course. The rigor of this course is consistent with colleges and universities and will prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam in May. Upon successful completion of the exam, students may receive college credit and will be well-prepared for advanced Modern European History coursework. Additional details on this course from College Board can be found here: AP European History.

This course centers on an exploration of European History through the lens of a historian, based on primary and secondary sources. Students will develop historical thinking skills and reasoning processes as they travel through European History with a focus on seven recurring themes throughout the course:

1. Interaction of Europe and the World

2. Economic and Commercial Developments

3. Cultural and Intellectual Developments

4. States and Other Institutions of Power

5. Social Organization and Development

6. National and European Identity

7. Technological and Scientific Innovation

The course content is organized into 9 chronological units spanning the years 1450 to the present. Students will explore units including The Renaissance, Conflict, Crisis, and Reaction in the late 18th Century, and 20th Century Global Conflicts. The course contains a wide-variety of primary and secondary sources for students to explore and analyze in order to obtain a deep and broad understanding of European history. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge through multiple modalities including engaging discussions and the creation of timelines, virtual posters and art.

Students will be expected to enroll in My AP Classroom through their VHS Learning AP course and will be guided to complete review work in My AP Classroom throughout the year. My AP Classroom resources include AP Daily Videos and unit-based Personal Progress Checks, which include AP-style multiple choice and free response questions.

Students enrolled in VHS Learning Advanced Placement courses with a passing grade are expected to take the AP Exam. Students register for AP exams through their local school or testing site as “Exam Only” students. AP exam scores will be reported to VHS Learning through My AP Classroom; exam results will not affect the student's VHS Learning grade or future enrollment in VHS Learning courses.

This AP course has a required summer assignment. The summer assignment is a review of prerequisite content and critical concepts students must be comfortable with before beginning the course. Students are expected to complete their summer assignment before the course begins and submit their work by the end of Week 1. Students who register on or after September 1 will receive an extension to complete the summer assignment by the end of Week 3.

In this AP-level course, students are expected to invest approximately 10 hours per week on their course work.

Acknowledgements

  • In addition to the enrollment fee, this course has an Additional Course Fee of $80.
  • The required summer assignment for AP® European History can be found in our AP® Summer Work Directory.

Course Objectives

Course Essential Questions:

  • What role did economic development and the development of capitalism play in Europe's history?
  • What significant effects did the creations and transmission of knowledge have on European and world societies?
  • How did European states and nations organize society and consolidate political power?
  • How did economic, political, and cultural factors influence family, class, and social groups in European history?
  • How have definitions and perceptions of regional, cultural, national and European identity developed and been challenged over time?
  • How have scientific and technological innovations increased efficiency, improved daily life, and shaped human interactions throughout European history?

Course Learning Objectives:

  • Identify and explain historical developments and processes throughout European history.
  • Analyze sourcing and situation of primary and secondary sources.
  • Analyze arguments in primary and secondary sources.
  • Analyze the context of historical events, developments, or processes.
  • Analyze patterns and connections between and among historical developments and processes using historical reasoning processes (comparison, causation, continuity and change).
  • Develop an Argument.

Additional Requirements

This AP course has a required summer assignment. The summer assignment is a review of prerequisite content and critical concepts students must be comfortable with before beginning the course. Students are expected to complete their summer assignment before the course begins and submit their work by the end of Week 1. Students who register on or after September 1 will receive an extension to complete the summer assignment by the end of Week 3.