Introduction
One of the hardest parts of AP World History: Modern is keeping track of all six periods (1200–Present). Each period has unique events, but the exam focuses on connections, comparisons, and changes over time.
This overview breaks down each period into the essential themes, events, and concepts you need to know — along with study strategies and RevisionDojo’s tools to help you retain it all.
Period 1: 1200–1450
Key Themes
- Trade Routes: Silk Roads, Indian Ocean, Trans-Saharan trade.
- Empires: Mongols, Mali, Delhi Sultanate, Song Dynasty.
- Cultural Diffusion: Spread of Islam, technologies (paper, gunpowder).
Exam Connection: Often tested through comparisons (e.g., Mongol rule in China vs. Russia).
Period 2: 1450–1750
Key Themes
- Age of Exploration: Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Magellan.
- Columbian Exchange: Exchange of goods, people, and diseases between Old and New Worlds.
- Gunpowder Empires: Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal.
- Colonization: European empires expanding overseas.
Exam Connection: DBQs often focus on trade or Columbian Exchange effects.
Period 3: 1750–1900
Key Themes
- Industrial Revolution: Britain, Germany, U.S., Japan.
- Political Revolutions: American, French, Haitian, Latin American.
- Imperialism: European colonization in Africa and Asia.
- Social Change: Abolition of slavery, women’s rights movements.
Exam Connection: Expect CCOT essays (Industrial Revolution impacts).
Period 4: 1900–Present
Key Themes
- World Wars: Causes, alliances, and outcomes.
- Cold War: U.S. vs. USSR, proxy wars, nuclear arms race.
- Decolonization: India, Africa, Southeast Asia.
- Globalization: Technology, trade, climate concerns.
Exam Connection: Argument essays often pull from this period.
Period 5: Key Overlaps (Modern World History Focus)
Though the exam condenses content into 1200–Present, certain older themes resurface:
- Long-distance trade shaping global economies.
- Religious transformations (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism).
- Governance shifts (rise and fall of empires).
Period 6: Present Globalization
Key Themes
- Digital Age: Internet, social media, AI.
- Global Challenges: Climate change, pandemics, migration.
- International Organizations: UN, WTO, NATO.
Exam Connection: Use contemporary examples when contextualizing FRQs.
How to Study Each Period Effectively
- Use Timelines: Organize events visually across centuries.
- Make Thematic Connections: Always tie events to AP themes (governance, economy, society, environment, culture).
- Practice CCOT Essays: Compare two periods for changes and continuities.
- Drill Period-Specific Flashcards: RevisionDojo provides period-by-period review cards.
Common Exam Mistakes
- Confusing 1450–1750 (Exploration) with 1750–1900 (Industrialization).
- Forgetting continuities (not just what changed).
- Writing DBQs without connecting documents to outside evidence.
RevisionDojo Advantage
RevisionDojo makes reviewing AP World History periods easy by offering:
- Period 1–6 condensed guides that cut out unnecessary details.
- Interactive timelines that show CCOT connections clearly.
- DBQ & SAQ practice with period-based questions.
- Full-length practice tests broken down by periods.
Instead of memorizing lists, RevisionDojo helps you master themes and comparisons, which is exactly how the AP exam is scored.
Conclusion
AP World History can feel overwhelming because of its scope, but breaking it into six periods with themes and patterns makes it manageable.
By practicing with RevisionDojo’s structured resources, you’ll be prepared to connect trade routes, revolutions, world wars, and globalization into one coherent story of world history — and earn that 5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which AP World History period is most tested?
A: Periods 3 (1750–1900) and 4 (1900–Present) appear most often on DBQs and essays.
Q: Do I need to memorize every date?
A: No. Focus on patterns, continuities, and turning points (1492, 1750, 1914, 1945).
Q: How should I study trade routes?
A: Compare them (Silk Roads vs. Trans-Saharan) and track their impacts on culture and economy.
Q: What’s the difference between Period 2 and Period 3?
A: Period 2 emphasizes exploration and Columbian Exchange; Period 3 emphasizes industrialization and revolutions.
Q: Where can I get practice for each period?
A: RevisionDojo has targeted period-by-period quizzes, flashcards, and essay drills.
