• AP European History
    Introduction

    The AP course and examination in European History are intended for
    qualified students who wish to complete studies in secondary school equivalent
    to college introductory courses in European history. The examination
    presumes at least one academic year of college-level preparation.
    The inclusion of historical course material in the course description and
    in the examination is not intended as an endorsement by the College Board
    or Educational Testing Service of the content, ideas, or values expressed in
    the material. The material has been selected by historians who serve as
    members of the AP European History Development Committee. In their
    judgment, the material printed here reflects the course of study on which
    this examination is based and is therefore appropriate to use to measure
    the skills and knowledge acquired in this course.
    The current AP program in European History corresponds to the most
    recent developments in history curricula at the undergraduate level.* In
    colleges and universities, European history is increasingly seen in a broad
    perspective, with teaching methods reflecting an awareness of other disciplines
    and a diversity of techniques of presentation, including visual and
    statistical materials. Trends such as these are used by the Development
    Committee to adjust the course and the examination.
    The examination is divided into three parts: a multiple-choice section
    dealing with concepts, major historical facts and personalities, and historical
    analysis; a document-based essay designed specifically to test students?
    ability to work with evidence; and two thematic essays on topics of major
    significance. Together, these three parts of the examination provide students
    with an opportunity to demonstrate that they are qualified to pursue
    upper-level history studies at college.

    The Course
    Goals
    The study of European history since 1450 introduces students to cultural,
    economic, political, and social developments that played a fundamental
    role in shaping the world in which they live. Without this knowledge, we
    would all lack the context for understanding the development of contemporary
    institutions, the role of conflict and continuity in present-day society
    and politics, and the evolution of current forms of artistic expression and
    intellectual discourse.
    In addition to providing a basic narrative of events and movements, the
    goals of the AP program in European History are to develop (a) an understanding
    of some of the principal themes in modern European history,
    (b) an ability to analyze historical evidence, and (c) an ability to analyze
    and to express historical understanding in writing.