AP WORLD HISTORY SUMMER READING

Guns, Germs, and Steel

By Jared Diamond

PURPOSE

The book, Guns, Germs, and Steel is a wonderful book that explores macro-historical themes from a “big history” point of view. As AP students, we will be called upon to look at historical trends from a global perspective to a local perspective. This book is an excellent example of this historical exercise. As we read this book, we need to find examples of each of the historical themes.

AP World History is based on 5 historical themes.

  1. Interaction between humans and the environment.
  2. Development and interaction of cultures.
  3. State-building, expansion, and conflict.
  4. Creation, expansion, and interaction of economic systems.
  5. Development and transformation of social structures.

instructions:

As you read the book, highlight passages that correspond with the 5 historical themes in the colors indicated below. i have included examples for each theme. for example, in development and interaction of cultures, you can highlight something that pertains to religion, science, or art. you do not need to find something for each letter under a theme. you may focus on one element of a theme, if you choose.

you should have at least three different colors highlighted in each chapter. You should have each color highlighted somewhere. if you need to change the colors due to the colors of highlighter available to you, you may do so, but be sure to indicate which color corrosponds to which theme.

5 Historical Themes

1. Interaction between humans and the environment (red, or pink)

a.Demography and Disease

b.Migration

c.Patterns of Settlement

d.Technology

2.Development and Interaction of Cultures (green)

a.Religions

b.Belief Systems, Philosophies,

and Ideologies

c.Science and Technology

d.The Arts and Architecture

3.State-Building, Expansion and Conflict (blue)

a.Political Structures and forms of

governance

b.Empires

c.Nations and nationalism

d.Revolts and Revolutions

e.Regional, Trans-regional, and

Global Structures and

Organizations

4.Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems (purple)

a.Agricultural and pastoral

production

b.Trade and Commerce

c.Labor Systems

d.Industrialization

e.Capitalism and Socialism

5.Development and Transformation of Social Structures (yellow)

a.Gender Roles and Relations

b.Family and Kinship

c.Racial and Ethnic Constructions

d.Social and economic classes

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions, please contact me. My email is . I will respond as soon as I can.

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS DUE ON THE FIRST OFFICIAL DAY OF CLASS.