AP European History Summer Assignments 2008-09

Welcome to the challenging, rewarding, and enjoyable Auburn High School AP (Modern) European History Program. Our journey this academic year begins with the following AP/pre-IB European History summer assignments. Without question, the degree of thoughtfulness and effort exerted in the completion of these summer assignments directly corresponds to the preparedness with which students will enter the course. The content material is to be learned and understood, not simply memorized and regurgitated. It is acceptable (and advised) to form study groups to discuss the content; understanding often comes from actively discussing and explaining material. Please keep in mind that late work is unacceptable without an excused absence. 

Should you need any assistance over the summer you may contact Mr. Callahan at cwcallahan@auburnschools.org or Mr. Cummins at rcummins@auburnschools.org. In addition to assignments listed below please make every effort this summer to stay abreast of current events especially as they pertain to Europe.

1. Map Consideration 100 points: Use the maps provided to learn the geo-political boundaries of Europe and its physical features (all mountains, seas, islands, bays, channels, rivers, straits, etc.). If you wish, feel free to make copies of the blank maps and practice. There will be a 100-point map-test on this material at the first class meeting. (No word bank will be provided)  

Click Here for the Maps

2.Background Reading: Read the handout provided on Classical Civilizations.  This will serve as a review of the classical civilizations that you studied in the 8^th grade (if you attended a public school in Alabama). Following the map-test on the first day of class there will be a discussion of the contributions of the Hellenic, Hellenistic, and Roman civilizations to modern European society.  Be prepared to participate.  

Click Here for the Classical Civilizations Reading

3. Middle Ages Reading Assignment: There are two editions of our text, Jackson Speilvogel’s Western Civilization. The blue 3^rd edition and brown 4^th edition will be assigned as students visit Mr. Callahan’s room (841) at Auburn High School. students are to read and note-take the middle ages chapters in their text (in the blue 3^rd edition chapters 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and in the brown 4^th edition chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,) in order to complete the following task…

4. Middle Ages Terms, Part I: Identify 100 points. Using the knowledge gathered from reading the text, (and any supplemental resources from libraries, media centers, internet, etc.) students are to identify each term on the following list specifically addressing:

Who/What –Major participant(s) in the event and a full biographical description (if we do all of the terms should this revert to what we said earlier?)

When – Be as specific as one can according to the term

Where – Again, be as specific as one can be in describing the location

Historical Significance/Affect on Modern European History– Of the thousands (literally!) of terms we could have assigned, why are have these made the final list? What is so very significant about each term that our journey through Modern European History must begin with an understanding of the included list?  

Click Here for the List of Summer Terms

This information (handwritten unless extenuating circumstances are discussed with Mr. Callahan or Mr. Cummins) is also due at the first class meeting.  This assignment is worth 200 points.  Please follow the example below.  Be sure to # each term, underline each term, and follow the bulleted format.

          1.        Charles Martel

·         (Who/What) Mayor of the Palace during the reign of the Frankish “do-nothing kings”

·         (When) early 8^th century: 714-741

·         (Where) Austrasia: part of the Frankish kingdom

·         (Significance) –“do nothing kings” left the administration of their kingdoms to able assistants. Virtual ruler of three Merovingian kingdoms, defeated the Moslems @ the Battle of Poitiers saving central Europe from Moslem control, setting the stage for the Carolingian dynasty to replace the Merovingian dynasty

5. Middle Ages Terms, Part II: Themes Date Retrieval Chart 100 points: The purpose of this task is to analyze the content of the Early, High, and Later Middle Ages (students should use the text’s dates to differentiate the three Middle Age periods). Using the following Modern European History Themes: intellectual/cultural, political/diplomatic and social/economic (It may be wise to visit the National College Board website www.collegeboard.com for further thematic descriptions). 

Take each term identified in the previous task and decide under which theme it best fits…including a sentence or two why you think the term best fits under that particular theme. This assignment is the foundation for class-wide discussions on the second and third class meetings.  On the fourth class meeting, there will be a test on the entire Middle Ages. The finished product will require you to draw your own Data Retrieval Chart much like below and in underlined bullet-form describe each item placed in each category?

This page found at: http://www.auburnschools.org/ahs/cwcallahan/summer_assignments.htm