AP World History

AP World History

Comparison and Contrasts

Directions: Read and study all of the following comparison and contrasts of civilizations in the chart below. In addition, I have included Central Focus Questions that are intended to get you thinking about issues across time periods and civilizations.

UNIT #1: 8,000 BCE – 600 CE

Case Study #1:
Compare Them: The Decline of Egypt and Mesopotamian Civilizations
v When civilizations became powerful and prosperous, neighbor civilizations get envious.
v Wealthy civilizations usually too large territorially to defend, and more easily conquered.
Case Study #2:
Contrast Them: Olmec and Chavin Civilizations and Other Early Civilizations.
v They did NOT develop in river valleys.
v Neither did Greeceàmountainous terrain.
Central Focus Question #1: Why do people migrate?
v Some people nomadicàfollowing grazing animals.
v Seasonal-based agriculture.
v Inhospitable climate.
v Overpopulation.
v Famine.
v Disease.
v Escaping persecution (slavery, ethnic persecution, religious persecution, political persecution, genocide.)
v Employment.
Case Study #3:
Compare Them: Pax Romana with the Golden Ages of Greece, Gupta, and Others
v When empires expand territorially, it becomes the center of economic, scientific, and artistic energy.
v Conquered regions contribute their goods, laborers, soldiers, scientific discovery, and art.
v People in the capital are able to focus on civilization because they are militarily protected.
Case Study #4:
Contrast Them: The Fall of Han China, the Gupta Empire, and Rome.
v 2 major causes of decline threaten any empire:
1.  Internal Reasons (within a civilization):
v Economic depression
v Natural catastrophes
v Social unrest
v Military overextensionàhigher taxationàdivisions within society.
v Government corruption (“bread and circuses” in Rome)
2.  External Reasons
v Invading armies.
Examples:
·  Rome falls because of internal and external factors.
·  Rome never rises again.
·  China cyclically rises and falls.
Case Study #5:
Contrast Them: Daoism and Confucianism
v Both have belief in the Dao (“the Way”)
v Daoism deals with people having harmony with nature to find internal peace.
v Confucianism, on the other hand, encourages people to get involved in government, so it acts as a force for good in the world.
v Daoism wants little government interference with finding peace.
v Confucianism also prescribes ‘knowing your role’ with people subservient to their occupation, social class, and gender.
Case Study #6:
Contrast Them: Legalism and Confucianism
v Both social belief systems.
v Both are intended to bring order to society.
v Confucianism based upon the assumption that people are innately good, whereas legalism believes that people are inherently evil.
v Confucianism’s focus is on responsibilities, whereas Legalism is focused on strict codes and responsibility.
Case Study #7:
Compare Them: Confucianism, Hinduism, and Judaism.
v Originate and closely related to cultures in which they were founded.
v Sustained their respective cultures.
v NOT evangelical.

UNIT #2: 600 CE – 1450 CE

Central Question #2: How did the Roman Empire split into two civilizations-Rome and the Byzantine Empire?
v Roman Empire too large to govern.
v Split into smaller administrative regions.
v Constantine becomes a Christian (330), reunites empire in Constantinople.
v In 395, Roman Empire splits, with eastern territory known as Byzantine Empire.
v 1054, Christianity splits into Roman Catholicism (West) and Eastern Orthodoxy (East).
Case Study #8
Contrast Them: Religion and State in Roman Catholicism and Christian Orthodoxy.
v Roman Catholicism very centralized in Rome with Langua Franca being Latin.
v Eastern Orthodoxy more decentralized with local churches and practices performed in local languages.
v West-religious empire with subservient political units.
v East-secular empire with one official religion.
Case Study #9
Compare Them: Ancient Civilizations and the Middle Ages.
v Agricultural surpluses led to sedentary societies where civilization developed.
v Feudalism was small, self-sustaining communities WITHOUT surpluses, BUT interaction caused creation of guilds, specialized occupations, towns, and cities.
Case Study #10
Contrast Them: Feudal Europe and the Islamic Empire.
v Arabs more worldly/Europeans more provincial (narrow, local).
v Abbasid Dynasty center of learning in the world/Baghdad.
v Catholic Christian monasteries center of learning in Holy Roman Empire.
Central Question #3: What role did civil service exams play in China?
v Focused more on meritocracy versus aristocracy. (although still played a factor in bureaucratic positions).
v Chinese bureaucracy maintained stability in government even when dynasties changed.
Case Study #11
Contrast Them: China and Japan
v China influenced Japan. (Taika Reforms)
v However, only temporarily.
Case Study #12:
Compare and Contrast Them: European and Japanese Feudalism.
v Similarities: political structure, social structure, and honor code. (Chivalry/Bushido).
v Lasted very long time.
v Differences: feudal contract was actual contract/Japan’s feudal arrangement based upon group identity and loyalty.
Case Study #13:
Contrast Them: Hinduism and Islam
v Hinduism is older, Islam most recent of major religions.
v Hinduism polytheistic, Islam is monotheistic.
v Hinduism has a caste system, Islam ‘all are equal before God’.
v Hinduism universal and exclusive, Islam syncretism.
Case Study #14:
Contrast Them: The Mongol Empire and All Other Major Civilizations.
v Largest territorially.
v Slowed down cultural developments of conquered civilizations.
v Connected Eurasian plain from Pacific to Mediterranean.
v Did not culturally influence others.
Case Study #15:
Compare Them: The Aztec Civilization and the Roman Empire.
v Large civilizations.
v Allowed people they conquered to govern themselves as long as they paid their tribute (taxes).
v Adapted ideas from various cultures under control, and use them.

UNIT #3: 1450 - 1750

Case Study #16:
Contrast Them: Art in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
v Medieval art religious in topic; Renaissance art religious and secular with Christian and Humanist elements.
v Medieval art almost exclusively in Cathedrals; Renaissance art paid for by religious and secular leaders.
v Medieval art flat and idealized; Renaissance art realistic, more human-looking.
v Medieval art was not worldly; Renaissance art was worldly.
Central Focus Question #3: What role did the Protestant Reformation play in world history?
v Martin Luther’s questions were theological and directed at power structure of Roman Catholic Church.
v Luther: People can seek salvation WITHOUT Roman Catholic Churchàonly need their Bible to learn to become a good Christian.
v Foundation for questioning authority in: education, politics, and science.
Central Focus Question #4: What does the Roman Catholic Church defend itself against?
v Protestant Reformation and Scientific Revolution with regards to absolute authority of the Pope.
v Protestant Reformation on theological grounds; Scientific Revolution on scientific/mathematical grounds.
Case Study #: 17
Contrast Them: Divine Right and Mandate of Heaven
v Chou Dynasty in China rules under Mandate of Heaven whereas Monarchs had Divine Right of Kings.
v Mandate of Heaven grants authority to dynasties only as long as they please heaven, then new emperor to take over; Monarchs would justify their rule regardless of poor performance.
Case Study #18:
Contrast Them: Expansion in the Americas and Empire-Building elsewhere
v Mongols/Muslims allowed native cultures to continue on with limited test of loyalty.
v North America/South America: Europeans instituted their own culture with disease and military wiping out indigenous peoples.
Central Focus Question: #5
How did demographic shifts take place between 1450 and 1750?
v Aztecs/Incas wiped out; huge cities devastated.
v Africans migrated by the millions.
v European cities swelled, while feudalism disintegrated.
Central Focus #6:
What influence did the Enlightenment Writers have?
v Thomas Hobbes believed human nature needed strong government to contain violent-nature of people.
v John Locke introduced concept of social contract.
Case Study #19:
Contrast Them: England and France during 17th Century (1600’s)
v France ruled by strong, effective monarchs during Bourbon Dynasty.
v England went from monarchy to Commonwealth to Restoration to Glorious Revolution.
v English Parliament stronger than France’s Estates-General.
Case Study #20:
Contrast Them: Germany with Spain, England, and France.
v Spain, England, and France have unified governments much earlier than Germany (1871).
v Heart of Protestant Reformation.
v Controlled by Hapsburgs of Austria, Holy Roman Empire, and city-states.
Case Study #21
Contrast Them: Russia and Western Europe
v Russia maintains feudalism.
v Western Europe has Renaissance, debates religion, science, and political theory; Russia does NOT.
v Mongols halted Russia’s participation in Renaissance.
Central Focus Question #7: How did Russia deal with Westernization?
v Peter and Catherine flirted with Westernization.
v Gained sea-access via Baltic and Black Seas.
v Russia engages Westernization.
Case Study #22:
Contrast Them: India, China, and Japan on European Aggression.
v Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan against European imperialism.
v China/India allowed Europeans on coast for trade.
v Japan later becomes colonizer.

UNIT #4: 1750 – 1914

Case Study #23:
Compare Them: The Scientific Revolution and The Industrial Revolution
v Discovering, learning, and applying the natural world in a practical manner.
v Patents protected inventions and inventors; applied to manufacturing.
v Universities/research organizations developed to collaborate between these disciplines.
Case Study #24:
Contrast Them: Social Structures before industrialization and afterwards
v Socio-economic structure: small, wealthy class, large, poor class.
v Industrialization: factory owners gained wealth quickly, long hours/unsafe working conditions for workers.
v Workers see connection between their hard work, and factory-owners’ profits.
Case Study #25:
Contrast Them: Ethnocentrism in Europe and Elsewhere
v Chinese believed their kingdom was “center of the world”, ethnically superior to other people.
v Japanese/Europeans same way.
v Europeans had technologically advanced arms, strong economic motives, able to subjugate other peoples more easily.
Case Study #26:
Contrast Them: European Imperialism in China and India
v British establish control in India/ran government and built internal projects.
v Europeans traded in China without governmental responsibilities.
v Indians wanted independence from Britain/Chinese wanted freedom from Manchu Dynasty.
Case Study #27:
Compare Them: The Industrial Revolution in Europe and in Japan
v Private corporations rose up, industrialists (Mitsubishi family) rose to prominence, factories built, urbanization increased, and reforms made.
Case Study #28:
Compare Them: European Colonialism in Africa and in Latin America
v Colonialism similar: European determined boundaries regardless of people living in societies there.
v European officials ran the government.
v Native traditions NOT tolerated.
Central Focus Question #8 Causes and Consequences of American Revolution
v Enlightenment inspired the revolution, mercantilist policies.
v Frustration over taxation and economic exploitation.
v Served as model for further revolutions: French Revolution.
Case Study #29:
Contrast Them: American and French Revolution
v American Revolution colonial uprising against imperial power/French Revolution own citizens against their own government.
v America patterned after Great Britain/French Revolution overthrow of political and economic system; King beheaded.
v US influenced French Revolution.

UNIT #5: 1914 – the Present

Case Study #30:
Contrast Them: Fascism and Totalitarianism
v Fascism is a subset of Totalitarianism
v Dependent on dictator, who uses nationalism based upon racism.
v Dictator usually militaristic.
Case Study #31:
Contrast Them: Nationalism in Europe and in Its Colonies
v In Europe and Japan, nationalism fueled racism, fascism, and domination.
v National pride became driving force behind territorial expansionism.
v In colonies, nationalism translated into self-determination to determine indigenous peoples’ destiny.
Central Focus Question #9
Dynastic China to Communist China
v Confucianism dominated class structure in China for 2,000 years; class distinctions erased in Communist China (ideally).
v Confucianism reinforced social roles in society; Communism erased them.
v Confucianism liked traditional values; Communism wanted to rip them down.
v Communist China implemented ‘one-child-per-family policy’
v Emphasized abortion and birth control.
v Gender equality.
v Women could divorce husbands, property rights, equal pay for equal work (ideally).
Case Study #:32
Contrast Them: High-Tech Warfare and Guerilla Warfare
v High-tech warfare included fighter jets, missiles, and tanks.
v Guerilla warfare stealthy, reliant upon individuals and small groups fighting site-to-site, disrupting supply lines, and instituting fear.
Case Study #33:
Contrast Them: “West” and “East”
v West: democratic-capitalism, economically prosperous.
v East: communist, totalitarian, less prosperous.
Central Focus Question #10: Globalization and the Rise of NGO’s
v Non-governmental Organizations are typically private, non-profit agencies that provide relief services/advocacy groups for people unaddressed by governments.
v Globalization has made international reach and fundraising easier as well as recognizing needs.
v Examples: International Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, Amnesty International
Case Study #34:
Compare Them: Independence in Africa and India
v Gained independence after WWII.
v Torn apart by ethnic/religious strife.
v India: Hindus/Muslims
v Africa: tribal hatreds.
Case Study #35:
Compare Them: Role of Women after Chinese Revolution and before Iranian Revolution
v Role of women increased dramatically.
v Changes rapid: women could vote, dress less traditionally, access to divorce, become educated, and gain a career.
v Iranian Revolution rolled back these reforms.
Central Focus Question #11: The Threat of “McDonalidization”
v Spread of Western culture throughout globe.
v Foreign countries adopting Western cultural influences within their own culture.
v Theory of Cultural Imperialism.
v Backlash against: Starbucks, Wal-Mart, and Disney.

Source: Adapted from The Princeton Review’s Cracking the AP World History Exam with additional details and analyses provided by Steve Schaefer.

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