AP World History timeline & study guide

AP World History – Timeline & Study Guide
Course	AP World History: Modern
Page type	Chronological timeline and study guide
Audience	Students · Educators
Coverage	c. 1200 CE – present
Primary focus	Historical chronology · Periodization · Context
Use	Timeline review · Big-picture synthesis · Exam preparation
Status	Core content complete; entries expanded and refined as needed
Collaboration	Questions, clarifications, corrections, or student assistance are welcome via the contact page.

AP World History: Modern timeline, 1200-present

Article purpose:

• timeline via sortable chart columns
• associate time, place, theme and make connections

List of APWH Units

AP World History: Modern framework:

• Unit 1: The Global Tapestry (c. 1200–1450)
• Unit 2: Networks of Exchange (c. 1200–1450)
• Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (c. 1450–1750)
• Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections (c. 1450–1750)
• Unit 5: Revolutions (c. 1750–1900)
• Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization (c. 1750–1900)
• Unit 7: Global Conflict (c. 1900–present)
• Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization (c. 1900–present)
• Unit 9: Globalization (c. 1900–present)

Units 1-2, 1200 to 1450

Dates	Empire / Event	Region (AP)	Theme 1	Theme 2	Main Ideas / Notes
Unit 1 — The Global Tapestry (c. 1200–1450)
750–1258	Abbasid Caliphate	West Asia	Religion	State Power	Capital at Baghdad; heart of Dar al‑Islam Caliph combined religious and political authority Fragmented by 9th century into autonomous states Symbolic Sunni center despite political weakness Ended by Mongol sack of Baghdad (1258) Dar al‑Islam ("house of Islam", i.e., the Muslim World) in the 10th century
960–1279	Song Dynasty	East Asia	State Power	Technology	Strong bureaucracy via civil service exams Commercialized economy; urban growth Innovations: paper money, printing, gunpowder
1095–1492	Crusades	Europe / West Asia	Religion	Conflict	Christian holy wars to reclaim Jerusalem Increased contact between Europe and Islamic world Stimulated trade, cultural diffusion, and hostility
1173–1206	Ghurid Dynasty	South Asia	Cultural Diffusion	Religion	Introduced Islam to northern India Challenged Hindu political dominance Transferred Persian culture (architecture, literature)
1206–1526	Delhi Sultanate	South Asia	State Power	Cultural Diffusion	Muslim dynasties ruling northern India Founded by Turkic mamluks Religious tolerance but social hierarchy favored Muslims Repelled Mongols; weakened by Timur’s sack of Delhi (1398) Ended by Mughal conquest
1206–1277	Genghis Khan	Central Asia	Empire	Military	Unified Mongol tribes Conquest through mobility, terror, meritocracy
1215	Magna Carta	Europe	Governance	Law	Limited royal authority Early precedent for constitutional rule
1279–1368	Yuan Dynasty	East Asia	Empire	Social Hierarchy	Mongol rule over China Ethnic hierarchy favored Mongols over Han Chinese Integrated China into Eurasian trade networks
1324	Mansa Musa’s Pilgrimage	West Africa	Religion	Trade	Demonstrated Mali’s immense gold wealth Strengthened West Africa’s Islamic connections
1325	Tenochtitlan Founded	Mesoamerica	Urbanization	State Power	Capital of the Aztec Empire Built on Lake Texcoco with complex engineering
1336–1572	Vijayanagara Empire	South Asia	State Power	Religion	Hindu empire resisting Islamic expansion Major urban, economic, and cultural center Fell after defeat by Deccan sultanates
Unit 2 — Networks of Exchange (c. 1200–1450)
1260–1350	Pax Mongolica	Eurasia	Trade	Globalization	Mongol peace enabled Silk Road trade Increased exchange of goods, people, and ideas
1260	Division of Mongol Empire	Eurasia	Empire	Governance	Split into Yuan, Ilkhanate, Golden Horde, Chagatai Political unity weakened after succession disputes Mongol khanates c. 1335
1271–1295	Marco Polo’s Travels	Eurasia	Trade	Cultural Diffusion	Introduced Europeans to East Asian wealth and organization
1271–1285	Failed Mongol Invasions of Japan	East Asia	Empire	Environment	Kamikaze (“divine winds”) destroyed invasion fleets
1325–1354	Ibn Battuta’s Travels	Afro‑Eurasia	Trade	Cultural Diffusion	Documented extensive Islamic world connectivity
1346	Black Death in China	East Asia	Disease	Demography	Spread along Silk Roads under Mongol rule
1347–1388	Black Death in Europe	Europe	Disease	Social Change	Killed up to half the population Weakened feudalism due to labor shortages
1351–1368	Red Turban Rebellion	East Asia	Rebellion	State Power	Contributed to fall of Yuan Dynasty
1353	Gunpowder Perfected in Europe	Europe	Technology	Cultural Diffusion	Originated in China; transmitted via Mongols Ended dominance of knightly cavalry
1368–1644	Ming Dynasty	East Asia	State Power	Trade	Restored Han Chinese rule Rebuilt bureaucracy and infrastructure
1405–1433	Zheng He’s Voyages	Indian Ocean World	Trade	State Power	Ming-sponsored naval expeditions demonstrating power
1299–1923	Ottoman Empire	West Asia	Empire	Religion	Sunni Muslim gunpowder empire Controlled key crossroads of trade
1400s	Portuguese Caravel Developed	Atlantic World	Technology	Maritime Trade	Improved sails enabled long-distance navigation
1441	Atlantic Slave Trade Begins	Atlantic World	Labor	Trade	Enslaved Africans used on Atlantic island plantations

AP World History Study Guide: Units 3–4 (1450–1750)

Dates	Empire / Event	Region (AP)	Theme 1	Theme 2	Main Ideas / Notes
Unit 3 — Land‑Based Empires (c. 1450–1750)
1453	Ottoman Conquest of Constantinople	West Asia / Europe	Empire	Technology	End of Byzantine Empire Use of gunpowder artillery Renamed Istanbul; became Ottoman capital
c. 1450–1750	Gunpowder Empires (Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal)	West Asia / South Asia	Technology	State Power	Muskets and cannon used to consolidate power Created stable bureaucratic states Cultural patronage and cosmopolitan elites
1450s–1480s	Russia Overthrows Mongol Rule	Eurasia	State Power	Empire	End of Mongol dominance over Moscow Foundation for Russian territorial expansion
1464–1591	Songhai Empire	West Africa	Empire	Trade	Controlled trans‑Saharan gold and salt trade Islamic governance alongside local traditions
1469	Sikhism Begins	South Asia	Religion	Cultural Diffusion	Founded by Guru Nanak Syncretic beliefs blending Hinduism and Islam
1492	Reconquista Completed	Europe	Religion	State Power	Christian kingdoms expelled Muslim rulers from Iberia Increased religious uniformity in Spain
1492	Columbus Reaches the Americas	Atlantic World	Exploration	Exchange	Initiated sustained contact between hemispheres
1498	Vasco da Gama Reaches India	Indian Ocean World	Trade	Maritime Technology	Established direct sea route from Europe to Asia
1501–1722	Safavid Empire	West Asia	Empire	Religion	Established Shi’a Islam as state religion Frequent conflict with Ottomans
1526–1748	Mughal Empire	South Asia	Empire	Cultural Diffusion	Founded by Babur using firearms Akbar promoted religious tolerance Monetized agrarian economy
1556–1605	Akbar the Great	South Asia	State Power	Religion	Centralized Mughal administration Promoted cooperation among religious groups
1600–1826	Tokugawa Shogunate	East Asia	Governance	Social Order	Military dictatorship in Japan Enforced social hierarchy and isolation
1644–1911	Qing (Manchu) Dynasty	East Asia	Empire	Social Hierarchy	Manchu conquest of China Adopted Confucian governance
1643–1715	Louis XIV of France	Europe	State Power	Absolutism	Absolute monarchy; “I am the state” Expanded bureaucracy and army
Unit 4 — Transoceanic Interconnections (c. 1450–1750)
1450	Fra Mauro Map	Europe	Exploration	Globalism	Early modern European world map Showed Africa circumnavigation Reduced religious symbolism in cartography
1509–1543	Afonso I Rules Kongo	Sub‑Saharan Africa	Cultural Diffusion	Trade	Christian African king Diplomatic and economic ties with Portugal
1517	Martin Luther’s 95 Theses	Europe	Religion	Reform	Protest against Catholic practices Sparked Protestant Reformation
1519–1521	Magellan Circumnavigation	Global	Exploration	Exchange	First voyage around the globe Demonstrated Earth’s size and global connectivity
1534	France Claims St. Lawrence River	Atlantic World	Colonization	Trade	Began French presence in North America
1543	Copernicus Publishes Heliocentric Theory	Europe	Science	Intellectual Change	Challenged geocentric worldview Foundation of Scientific Revolution
1545	Potosí Silver Mine Opens	Andean South America	Labor	Global Trade	Major source of global silver Fueled Spanish and Asian economies
1550–1700	Scientific Revolution	Europe	Science	Technology	Empirical observation and experimentation Challenged traditional authorities
1571	Manila Founded by Spanish	Southeast Asia	Trade	Empire	Linked American silver to Asian markets
1595	Dutch Fluyt Ship Introduced	Europe	Technology	Trade	Cheap, efficient cargo ship Boosted Dutch commercial dominance
1600	English East India Company Founded	Indian Ocean World	Trade	Capitalism	Joint‑stock company Private army; controlled India by 1800s
1602	Dutch East India Company (VOC)	Indian Ocean World	Trade	Capitalism	State‑backed commercial empire
1607	Jamestown Founded	Atlantic World	Colonization	Settlement	First permanent English colony in Americas
1623–1641	Tokugawa Iemitsu	East Asia	Governance	Isolation	Enforced sakoku (closed country policy)
1632	Taj Mahal Built	South Asia	Culture	Imperial Power	Mughal architectural masterpiece
1652	Boers Settle Cape Colony	Sub‑Saharan Africa	Colonization	Trade	Dutch farming settlement in South Africa
1687	Newton’s Principia	Europe	Science	Intellectual Change	Laws of motion and gravity
1688	Glorious Revolution	Europe	Governance	Law	Limited monarchy Strengthened parliamentary power
1689–1725	Peter the Great	Eurasia	Cultural Diffusion	State Power	Westernized Russia Built St. Petersburg and navy
1698	Early Steam Engine	Europe	Technology	Energy	Precursor to industrialization
1715–1789	The Enlightenment	Europe	Philosophy	Governance	Emphasized reason and natural rights Influenced democratic revolutions

AP World History Study Guide: Units 5–6 (1750–1900)

Dates	Empire / Event	Region (AP)	Theme 1	Theme 2	Main Ideas / Notes
Unit 5 — Revolutions (c. 1750–1900)
1756–1763	Seven Years’ War	Global	Empire	Conflict	First global war (Europe, Americas, Asia) Britain gained territory; debt helped spark later revolutions
1757	Battle of Plassey	South Asia	Empire	Trade	British East India Company defeated Bengal Beginning of British domination of India
1760–1789	First Industrial Revolution	Europe	Technology	Economic Change	Mechanization of textile production Shift from agrarian to industrial economies
1765–1783	American Revolution	Atlantic World	Political Revolution	Enlightenment	Colonial revolt against British rule Influenced by Enlightenment ideals
1776	Adam Smith publishes Wealth of Nations	Europe	Economic Theory	Capitalism	Advocated free markets and laissez‑faire economics
1776	Declaration of Independence	Atlantic World	Political Revolution	Enlightenment	Asserted natural rights and popular sovereignty
1789–1799	French Revolution	Europe	Political Revolution	Social Change	Overthrew absolute monarchy Declared rights of citizens
1791–1804	Haitian Revolution	Caribbean	Political Revolution	Slavery	Successful slave revolt First independent Black republic
1792	Wollstonecraft publishes A Vindication of the Rights of Woman	Europe	Gender	Enlightenment	Early argument for women’s inequality and rights
1793	Cotton gin invented	North America	Technology	Labor	Increased cotton productivity Expanded demand for enslaved labor in U.S. South
1799–1815	Napoleonic Era	Europe	Empire	Nationalism	Spread revolutionary ideals Reordered European politics
1806–1826	Latin American Revolutions	Latin America	Political Revolution	Enlightenment	Led by elites such as Simón Bolívar Independence from European empires
1815	Congress of Vienna	Europe	Diplomacy	Conservatism	Restored monarchies Aimed to prevent future revolutions
Unit 6 — Consequences of Industrialization (c. 1750–1900)
1839–1860	Opium Wars	East Asia	Imperialism	Trade	Britain forced China to open ports Unequal treaties weakened Qing authority
1839–1876	Ottoman Tanzimat Reforms	West Asia	State Reform	Modernization	Attempted to strengthen empire Legal equality and centralized governance
1845–1849	Irish Potato Famine	Europe	Environment	Demography	Crop failure led to mass starvation and migration
1848	Communist Manifesto Published	Europe	Ideology	Economic Critique	Marx and Engels criticized capitalism
1848	Seneca Falls Convention	North America	Gender	Social Reform	First women’s rights convention
1850–1864	Taiping Rebellion	East Asia	Rebellion	Religion	Massive civil war in China Weakened Qing Dynasty
1854	Perry Opens Japan	East Asia	Imperialism	Trade	Forced Japan to open ports Led to rapid modernization
1857	Sepoy Rebellion	South Asia	Resistance	Empire	Indian revolt against British rule Led to British Crown control of India
1859–1869	Suez Canal Built	North Africa	Global Trade	Imperialism	Linked Mediterranean and Indian Ocean Increased European strategic control
1861	Emancipation of Russian Serfs	Europe / Eurasia	Labor	Reform	Ended legal serfdom Limited economic improvements
1863	Emancipation Proclamation	North America	Slavery	Political Change	Declared enslaved people free in Confederate states
1865–1908	King Leopold II in the Congo	Central Africa	Imperialism	Labor	Brutal extraction of rubber Millions killed under forced labor
1868	Meiji Restoration	East Asia	Modernization	State Power	Overthrew shogunate Rapid industrialization and westernization
1870–1914	Second Industrial Revolution	Europe / North America	Technology	Economic Change	Steel, electricity, chemicals Increased productivity and urbanization
1871	German Unification	Europe	Nationalism	State Power	Otto von Bismarck unified Germany through war and diplomacy
1885	Berlin Conference / Scramble for Africa	Africa	Imperialism	Globalization	Europe divided Africa without African participation Liberia and Ethiopia remained independent
1890s	Spheres of Influence in China	East Asia	Imperialism	Trade	Foreign powers dominated trade and law
1896	Battle of Adwa	East Africa	Resistance	Empire	Ethiopia defeated Italian forces
1898	Spanish‑American War	Global	Empire	Conflict	U.S. gained overseas territories
1899–1902	Boer War	Southern Africa	Imperialism	Conflict	Britain fought Dutch settlers over resources
1899	United Fruit Company Founded	Latin America	Corporations	Imperialism	U.S. business influence dominated local economies
1899–1901	Boxer Rebellion	East Asia	Resistance	Imperialism	Anti‑foreign uprising crushed by Western powers

AP World History Study Guide: Units 7–9 (1900–Present)

Dates	Empire / Event	Region (AP)	Theme 1	Theme 2	Main Ideas / Notes
Unit 7 — Global Conflict (c. 1900–1945)
1904	U.S. Begins Panama Canal	Latin America	Imperialism	Global Trade	U.S. backed Panamanian independence from Colombia Canal completed in 1914 Reduced global shipping times dramatically
1904–1905	Russo‑Japanese War	East Asia	Empire	Military	Japan defeated Russia First modern Asian victory over European power
1906	Muslim League Founded	South Asia	Nationalism	Religion	Advocated Muslim political interests in India
1910–1920	Mexican Revolution	Latin America	Revolution	Land Reform	Challenged dictatorship and social inequality
1914–1918	World War I	Global	Global Conflict	Nationalism	Industrialized warfare Collapse of empires (Ottoman, Russian, Austro‑Hungarian)
1915–1917	Armenian Genocide	West Asia	Genocide	Nationalism	Ottoman campaign against Armenians Over 1 million killed
1917	Russian Revolution	Eurasia	Revolution	Ideology	Bolsheviks seized power Established first communist state
1917	Zimmermann Telegram	Global	Diplomacy	War	Encouraged U.S. entry into WWI
1920	League of Nations Established	Global	International Cooperation	Peacebuilding	Aimed to prevent future wars Lacked enforcement power
1922	Stalin Assumes Power	Eurasia	Authoritarianism	State Power	Centralized Soviet control
1922–1923	Ottoman Empire Ends / Turkey Founded	West Asia	Nationalism	State Formation	Atatürk established secular Turkish state
1927–1937	Chinese Civil War	East Asia	Revolution	Ideology	Nationalists vs. Communists
1929–1939	Great Depression	Global	Economic Crisis	Social Change	Worldwide economic collapse Led to extremist ideologies
1931	Japan Invades Manchuria	East Asia	Imperialism	Militarism	Preview of WWII expansionism
1936–1938	Great Purge (USSR)	Eurasia	Authoritarianism	Violence	Stalin eliminated perceived rivals
1939–1945	World War II	Global	Global Conflict	Total War	Axis vs. Allied powers 60+ million deaths
1941–1945	Holocaust	Europe	Genocide	Racism	Nazi genocide of Jews and other groups
1941	Pearl Harbor	Pacific World	War	Imperialism	Japan attacked U.S. naval base
1945	Atomic Bombs Used	East Asia	Technology	War	Hiroshima and Nagasaki Nuclear era begins
Unit 8 — Cold War & Decolonization (c. 1945–1991)
1945–1991	Cold War	Global	Ideology	Global Conflict	Capitalism vs. Communism Proxy wars and nuclear deterrence
1945–1949	Chinese Communist Revolution	East Asia	Revolution	Ideology	Mao Zedong established People’s Republic of China
1946	Philippine Independence	Southeast Asia	Decolonization	Nationalism	U.S. grants independence
1947	Partition of India	South Asia	Decolonization	Religion	India and Pakistan formed Massive migration and violence
1947	Truman Doctrine	Global	Containment	Ideology	U.S. policy to stop spread of communism
1948	Israel Founded	West Asia	Nationalism	Conflict	Arab‑Israeli tensions begin
1949	NATO Established	Europe / North America	Military Alliance	Cold War	Western collective defense