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Unit 0: Intro to World History

c. 8000 BCE to 1200 CE

Before you begin learning about the world in 1200 CE, it’s important to know what came before this year. Learn the context you’ll need to succeed in World History AP®.

Lesson 0.0

Early Humans
For most of our 250,000-year history, all humans were foragers. But then, about 12,000 years ago, some people started farming. Was it all a huge mistake?

Lesson 0.1

Cities, States, and Empires
How did complex societies change the way people lived? Trace the transformation from small communities to cities, states, and empires—and explore how this transformation reshaped human life.

Lesson 0.2

Development of Portable Belief Systems
From Hinduism and Buddhism to Christianity and Islam, religions transformed societies as they spread to new places. As these beliefs spread, some religions blended with local cultures and took on new traditions.

Lesson 0.3

Rome and Han China
Learn about the transition of Rome from republic to empire and examine how the Han Dynasty first seized and later lost the Mandate of Heaven. Plus explore the roles and rights of women in these two powerful ancient civilizations.

Lesson 0.4

Collapse and Restructuring
After the fall of empires, societies don’t always collapse, they adapt, rebuild, and restructure. Challenge the idea of universal decline and explore how people showed resilience after catastrophe.