AP European History Course Description & Summer Reading
AP European History Course Description & Summer Reading Course Description
AP European History is a challenging but rewarding experience. It seeks to foster individual interest in European history through analysis of its early modern and modern period—from the Renaissance to the present. This course is designed to be a college-level survey course that introduces students to the rich political, social, economic, intellectual, and cultural history of Europe. The goals of this course are to develop an understanding of the principal themes in modern European history and the ability to analyze historical evidence. It also seeks to further students’ ability to express that understanding and analysis effectively both orally and in writing. Students are required to take the AP European History examination upon completion of the course. Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of basic chronology and major events and trends from approximately 1450 to the present. Emphasis is placed on students developing intellectual and academic skills that include effective analysis of primary sources, the ability to weigh evidence and reach conclusions on the basis of factual knowledge, and clear and concise written expression. It is crucial that students discuss effectively with classmates in our class discussions.
Summer Reading & Test at the Beginning of the School Year We will have summer reading tests on the second and third day of classes in the fall. The first test will consist of multiple-choice and short-answer questions in regard to the first two chapters in our textbook. The second test will be an in-class essay covering the book(s) that you chose as additional summer reading. All students have to read Chapters 11 & 12 (“The Later Middle Ages” and “European Society in the Age of the Renaissance”) in our textbook: McKay, John P., Bennett D. Hill, John Buckler, Clare Haru Cowston, Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks, and Joe Perry. A History of Western Society: Since 1300. 11th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2014.
In addition, each student may, based on his/her interest, pick one (in case of option F: two) of the following books (you may choose other editions): A) Conklin, Alice L., Sarah Fishman, and Robert Zaretsky. France and Its Empire Since 1870. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. B) Darwin, John. Unfinished Empire: The Global Expansion of Britain. New York: Bloosmbury Press, 2013. C) Figes, Orlando. Revolutionary Russia, 1891–1991: A History. New York: Metropolitan, 2014. D) Mazower, Mark. Dark Continent: Europe’s Twentieth Century. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998. E) Ozment, Steven. A Mighty Fortress: A New History of the German People. New York: HarperCollins, 2004. F) Ruderman, David B. Early Modern Jewry: A New Cultural History. Princeton: Princeton Univ Press, 2010. Bartal, Israel. The Jews of Eastern Europe, 1772–1881. Philadelphia: Univ of Pennsylvania Press, 2005.
If you have any questions concerning the assignments, please email me at [email protected]. Happy reading, Mr. Kunst
AP European History is a challenging but rewarding experience. It seeks to foster individual interest in European history through analysis of its early modern and modern period—from the Renaissance to the present. This course is designed to be a college-level survey course that introduces students to the rich political, social, economic, intellectual, and cultural history of Europe. The goals of this course are to develop an understanding of the principal themes in modern European history and the ability to analyze historical evidence. It also seeks to further students’ ability to express that understanding and analysis effectively both orally and in writing. Students are required to take the AP European History examination upon completion of the course. Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of basic chronology and major events and trends from approximately 1450 to the present. Emphasis is placed on students developing intellectual and academic skills that include effective analysis of primary sources, the ability to weigh evidence and reach conclusions on the basis of factual knowledge, and clear and concise written expression. It is crucial that students discuss effectively with classmates in our class discussions.
Summer Reading & Test at the Beginning of the School Year We will have summer reading tests on the second and third day of classes in the fall. The first test will consist of multiple-choice and short-answer questions in regard to the first two chapters in our textbook. The second test will be an in-class essay covering the book(s) that you chose as additional summer reading. All students have to read Chapters 11 & 12 (“The Later Middle Ages” and “European Society in the Age of the Renaissance”) in our textbook: McKay, John P., Bennett D. Hill, John Buckler, Clare Haru Cowston, Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks, and Joe Perry. A History of Western Society: Since 1300. 11th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2014.
In addition, each student may, based on his/her interest, pick one (in case of option F: two) of the following books (you may choose other editions): A) Conklin, Alice L., Sarah Fishman, and Robert Zaretsky. France and Its Empire Since 1870. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. B) Darwin, John. Unfinished Empire: The Global Expansion of Britain. New York: Bloosmbury Press, 2013. C) Figes, Orlando. Revolutionary Russia, 1891–1991: A History. New York: Metropolitan, 2014. D) Mazower, Mark. Dark Continent: Europe’s Twentieth Century. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998. E) Ozment, Steven. A Mighty Fortress: A New History of the German People. New York: HarperCollins, 2004. F) Ruderman, David B. Early Modern Jewry: A New Cultural History. Princeton: Princeton Univ Press, 2010. Bartal, Israel. The Jews of Eastern Europe, 1772–1881. Philadelphia: Univ of Pennsylvania Press, 2005.
If you have any questions concerning the assignments, please email me at [email protected]. Happy reading, Mr. Kunst
