AP World History: Modern
Advanced Placement World History: Modern examining global developments from 1200 CE to present.
Practical Applications
Analyzing Primary and Secondary Sources
Unlocking the Past Through Sources
Historians build knowledge from primary sources (original documents) and secondary sources (interpretations). Learning to analyze both is key in AP World History.
How to Analyze Sources
- Context: When and where was it created?
- Purpose: Why was it made? For whom?
- Bias: What perspective or agenda might the creator have?
- Comparison: How does it relate to other sources?
Applying Source Analysis
This skill helps you write stronger essays and understand current events by spotting bias and context.
Use It in Real Life
Being able to analyze information critically is valuable in careers, citizenship, and daily life.
Examples
Reading a political speech and identifying the speaker’s motives.
Comparing newspaper articles to spot different interpretations of an event.