Empires: Belief Systems
Teacher Resources
Lesson Guide
This lesson includes contextualization and CCOT activities, a source collection, and an SAQ practice. This guide has everything you’ll need to teach these materials.
CCOT One-Pager
Continuity and change over time (CCOT) is a major theme of this lesson. Be sure to check out this one-pager for more information about the tool and feedback form used with these activities.
Driving Question: What changes and continuities took place in Afro-Eurasian belief systems from c. 1450 to 1750 CE?
Across the world, numerous rulers championed a shared belief system to strengthen cohesion within their empires. Empires of the early-modern era witnessed the fracturing of several world religions as well as the shaping of some new ones. In this unit, you will analyze the development of different belief systems, as well as the impacts these systems had across various Afro-Eurasian empires from c. 1450 to 1750 CE.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain continuity and change within various belief systems, such as Protestantism, Catholicism, Sikhism, and Sunni and Shi’a Islam, during the period from 1450 to 1750.
- Assess how belief systems led to rivalries and conflicts between empires from 1450 to 1750.
- Use the historical thinking skill of contextualization to evaluate the transformation of belief systems in this era and how these systems were used by empires to maintain control.
- Use the historical reasoning process of continuity and change over time to assess how trade networks and land-based empires evolved from c. 1450 to 1750 CE.
- Analyze primary sources to evaluate the transformation of belief systems from c. 1450 to 1750 CE.
Feeling insecure about reading and responding to prompts? We’ve got you covered. The Question Parsing Tool will help you succeed!
Remember that you can quickly assess students’ contextualization skills with the Contextualization Feedback Form.
Contextualization will provide clues for you in figuring out why belief systems changed from 1450-1750.
This article introduces the various religious rifts that occurred during this era, including divisions between Sunni and Shi’a, Catholics and Protestants, and Sikhs and Muslims. Students will understand how empires used religion as a way to maintain control and they’ll see how these rifts continue to impact the world today.
The change in belief systems across the world from 1450-1750 completely changed the world. But why? And how did things change?
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Guiding Questions
Want to help students reinforce the AP themes before completing this closer activity? In this community conversation, an AP teacher shares an autopsy of gunpowder empires activity to help students review the themes in this unit.
Earlier, you have used the Themes Notebook to predict what you think might happen based on your studies. It’s time to see if you were right!
Martin Luther’s 95 Theses didn’t stop at the church door, and this video helps students trace how this single challenge to authority erupted into a continent-wide struggle over religion, state power, literacy, and social reform. Be sure your students note how many women were involved in these struggles.
For a fun look at Henry VIII’s role in the Protestant Reformation, check out the video Live from the Purple Carpet…Henry VIII’s Reunion Dinner in the WH 1200 course.
The work of one person can change everything. This was the case when a local monk fighting corruption in the Catholic Church set in motion a religious conflict that continues to influence our world today.
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Guiding Questions
How did religions change from c. 1450 to 1750 CE? Use your continuity and change over time skills to decide.
Have students review the introduction articles for Units 2 and 3 to help them identify the continuities and changes that took place. After students do this, we recommend completing this activity as a class to help students work through the first CCOT activity using historical content.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Is this true? You will find out as you analyze continuity and change over time from Unit 2 to Unit 3!
What leads people to change their beliefs over time? Understanding the answer to this question may unlock other mysteries over how society changes over time. Use the Quick-Sourcing Tool to help you analyze these primary source excerpts.
This closer helps students put all their learning together as they assess how cultural developments and interactions (belief systems) impacted governance (land-based empires).
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a teacher? Here is your chance! You will score other students’ SAQ responses!