Ap World History Key Concepts & Focus Questions

A key concept is a description of course content knowledge particular to a given historical period. The key concepts and content outlines that follow provide a conceptual framework to help teachers and students understand, organize and prioritize historical developments within each designated historical period. It is not necessary to teach the concepts in the order listed in these outlines, or even in isolation; several key concepts can be taught simultaneously. Through the use of these outlines, the framework clearly indicates the depth of knowledge required for each key concept. By focusing the key concepts on global processes and themes rather than on specific historical facts or events, teachers are free to choose examples that interest them or their students to demonstrate the concept.