2022 Live Review 5 | AP World History | Multiple-Choice Questions with Units 1 & 2

The video begins with a warm welcome to session five and an admission of being history enthusiasts. The speakers share personal anecdotes to illustrate their passion for history. One story involves a road trip with a French Revolution podcast, while the other describes a childhood memory of recording Star Wars movies on audio cassettes during a family trip. They emphasize the importance of evidence to support their claim of being history nerds and transition into the main topic of the video: discussing historical developments and processes.

This paragraph delves into the homework assignment from the previous session, which asked students to compare how two empires dealt with conquered peoples. The focus is on the Mughal and Spanish empires, examining the impact on social hierarchy, cultural beliefs, and economic production. The speakers discuss the commonality of conquerors placing themselves atop the social hierarchy but highlight key differences, such as the Spanish establishing a race-based hierarchy, unlike the Mughals. They also explore the religious tolerance of the Mughals in contrast to the Spanish Inquisition and the economic exploitation of the New World by the Spanish, with the Mughals showing more diversity and tolerance in their rule.

The speakers introduce the first skill of historical analysis: identifying and explaining concepts, developments, and processes within history. They emphasize the importance of understanding broad themes such as governance, economic systems, culture, and technology. The speakers guide viewers on how to identify historical processes like mercantilism, capitalism, communism, and major trade routes, and explain them effectively. They stress the need to simplify complex information while retaining its depth, using graphic organizers to make connections and prepare for the AP exam.

The speakers discuss the second skill of making connections in history, which involves identifying causation, continuity, and change over time, as well as comparison across regions and time periods. They argue that history does not repeat but 'rhymes,' with patterns emerging through human behavior. The speakers emphasize the importance of recognizing these patterns while also acknowledging the agency and choices of individuals and groups that shape history. They encourage students to find similarities and differences across historical events and processes to better understand the big picture of history.

The speakers focus on the years 1200 to 1450, highlighting the significance of trade routes across Afro-Eurasia and the impact of the Mongol Empire. They discuss the spread of religions, cultures, and languages through these routes and the economic and political implications. The speakers also touch on the decentralized governments in Europe, the major Chinese dynasties, and the Islamic caliphates, as well as the Incan Empire and the city-states in Mesoamerica. They encourage students to make connections across these developments, considering causation and the influence of economic innovations like the Grand Canal in China.

The speakers provide strategies for tackling multiple choice questions, emphasizing the importance of analyzing the stimulus material, such as maps, charts, or texts, and eliminating incorrect answers. They discuss a specific multiple choice question related to a historical map of West Africa, guiding viewers on how to approach the question and select the best answer. The speakers also share personal tips for maintaining stamina during the test, such as taking short breaks and practicing with full-length tests to understand one's testing plateau.

The speakers conclude the session with a homework assignment, encouraging students to review all study materials and identify major developments and processes from 1200 to 1450. They suggest using graphic organizers to help make connections and simplify complex information. The speakers also recommend discussing the Course and Exam Description (CED) with teachers to focus on relevant content and practice answering multiple choice questions under timed conditions.