AP WORLD HISTORY COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ patriarchy.
Answer: the idea that males have a right to rule and reign over states and
families
◍ Big Geography.
Answer: A term that draws attention to the global nature of world history.
◍ Trans-Oceanic Trade.
Answer: global trading system in the Caribbean and the Americans trade
networks extended to all corners of Atlantic Ocean
◍ iron metallurgy.
Answer: a changeable metal, less hard than bronze, but more flexible,
developed around 1500 BCE by the Hittites
◍ Treaty of Tordesillas.
Answer: A treaty signed by Portugal and Spain to divide the new world.
◍ *Adam Smith.
Answer: a Scottish moral philosopher, pioneer of political economy, and a
key figure in the Scottish Enlightenment
◍ Northern Renaissance.
Answer: An extension of the Italian Renaissance to the nations of northern
Europe; the Northern Renaissance took on a more religious nature than the
Italian Renaissance
◍ Pharaoh.
Answer: The term used to denote the kings of ancient Egypt; considered a
, god as well as a political and military leader. The term, "great house" refers
to the palace of the pharaohs
◍ Babylon.
Answer: an ancient city of Mesopotamia known for its wealth, luxury, and
vice.
◍ Monotheism.
Answer: The exclusive worship of one god; introduced by Jews into Middle
Eastern civilization
◍ Hernan Cortes.
Answer: a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall
of the Aztec Empire
◍ Vedas.
Answer: A belief system based on the caste system brought into India by
peoples probably from the Caucasus between about 5000 and 4000 BCE
◍ Cuneiform.
Answer: A form of writing developed by the Sumerians using a
wedge-shaped stylus and clay tablets
◍ 95 Theses.
Answer: Martin Luther's ideas that he posted on the church door at
Wittenburg which questioned the Roman Catholic Church. This act began
the Reformation
◍ pastoralism.
Answer: the process of domestication, raising, and herding of animals
◍ The Medici.
Answer: The Medici family was a family of bankers that started out as
middle class & then loaned money to a guy that became the pope & then
they became the wealthiest family in Florence. They sponsored many
artists/architects like Brunesllshci & made lots of money off them.
◍ 7 Years War.
, Answer: a war fought between 1754 and 1763, involving every European
great power of the time except the Ottoman Empire, spanning five
continents, and affected Europe, the Americas, West Africa, India, and the
Philippines. The conflict split Europe into two coalitions, led by the
Kingdom of Great Britain (Prussia, Portugal, Hanover, and other small
German states) on one side and the Kingdom of France (Austria-led Holy
Roman Empire, Russia, Spain, and Sweden) on the other.
◍ Zoroastrianism.
Answer: Founded by Zoroaster; taught that humans had the freedom to
choose between right and wrong, and that goodness would triumph in the
end. Marked by dualism between God = Good and the Evil. Influenced
Christianity. Was one of the first monotheistic religions.
◍ Hammurabi.
Answer: Babylonian king who codified the laws of Sumer and Mesopotamia
(died 1750 BCE)
◍ Newton.
Answer: This physicist developed the law of universal gravitation and
further caused the decline of the old system of science
◍ Descartes.
Answer: French philosopher, discovered analytical geometry. Saw Algebra
and Geometry have a direct relationship. Reduced everything to spiritual or
physical.
◍ Treaty of Zaragosa.
Answer: A treaty signed by Portugal and Spain to divided up Asia.
◍ Magellan.
Answer: Portuguese explorer who sailed around the Southern end of South
America and eventually reached the Philippines, but was killed in a local
war there
◍ wheel.
Answer: round object used to move heavy weights and to create vehicles
STUDY GUIDE 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ patriarchy.
Answer: the idea that males have a right to rule and reign over states and
families
◍ Big Geography.
Answer: A term that draws attention to the global nature of world history.
◍ Trans-Oceanic Trade.
Answer: global trading system in the Caribbean and the Americans trade
networks extended to all corners of Atlantic Ocean
◍ iron metallurgy.
Answer: a changeable metal, less hard than bronze, but more flexible,
developed around 1500 BCE by the Hittites
◍ Treaty of Tordesillas.
Answer: A treaty signed by Portugal and Spain to divide the new world.
◍ *Adam Smith.
Answer: a Scottish moral philosopher, pioneer of political economy, and a
key figure in the Scottish Enlightenment
◍ Northern Renaissance.
Answer: An extension of the Italian Renaissance to the nations of northern
Europe; the Northern Renaissance took on a more religious nature than the
Italian Renaissance
◍ Pharaoh.
Answer: The term used to denote the kings of ancient Egypt; considered a
, god as well as a political and military leader. The term, "great house" refers
to the palace of the pharaohs
◍ Babylon.
Answer: an ancient city of Mesopotamia known for its wealth, luxury, and
vice.
◍ Monotheism.
Answer: The exclusive worship of one god; introduced by Jews into Middle
Eastern civilization
◍ Hernan Cortes.
Answer: a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall
of the Aztec Empire
◍ Vedas.
Answer: A belief system based on the caste system brought into India by
peoples probably from the Caucasus between about 5000 and 4000 BCE
◍ Cuneiform.
Answer: A form of writing developed by the Sumerians using a
wedge-shaped stylus and clay tablets
◍ 95 Theses.
Answer: Martin Luther's ideas that he posted on the church door at
Wittenburg which questioned the Roman Catholic Church. This act began
the Reformation
◍ pastoralism.
Answer: the process of domestication, raising, and herding of animals
◍ The Medici.
Answer: The Medici family was a family of bankers that started out as
middle class & then loaned money to a guy that became the pope & then
they became the wealthiest family in Florence. They sponsored many
artists/architects like Brunesllshci & made lots of money off them.
◍ 7 Years War.
, Answer: a war fought between 1754 and 1763, involving every European
great power of the time except the Ottoman Empire, spanning five
continents, and affected Europe, the Americas, West Africa, India, and the
Philippines. The conflict split Europe into two coalitions, led by the
Kingdom of Great Britain (Prussia, Portugal, Hanover, and other small
German states) on one side and the Kingdom of France (Austria-led Holy
Roman Empire, Russia, Spain, and Sweden) on the other.
◍ Zoroastrianism.
Answer: Founded by Zoroaster; taught that humans had the freedom to
choose between right and wrong, and that goodness would triumph in the
end. Marked by dualism between God = Good and the Evil. Influenced
Christianity. Was one of the first monotheistic religions.
◍ Hammurabi.
Answer: Babylonian king who codified the laws of Sumer and Mesopotamia
(died 1750 BCE)
◍ Newton.
Answer: This physicist developed the law of universal gravitation and
further caused the decline of the old system of science
◍ Descartes.
Answer: French philosopher, discovered analytical geometry. Saw Algebra
and Geometry have a direct relationship. Reduced everything to spiritual or
physical.
◍ Treaty of Zaragosa.
Answer: A treaty signed by Portugal and Spain to divided up Asia.
◍ Magellan.
Answer: Portuguese explorer who sailed around the Southern end of South
America and eventually reached the Philippines, but was killed in a local
war there
◍ wheel.
Answer: round object used to move heavy weights and to create vehicles
