The Ultimate World History Study
Guide
Use this guide to learn how to study for a history
test. Explore world history events and a timeline
of world history, from ancient world history to
modern world history.
Written by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
World History
World history looks at the past from a global perspective. Rather
than focusing on a particular country or culture, the study of world
history events focuses on societal, political, and cultural movements
that impact a broader section of humanity. When examining world
history, historians and students look at the big picture, finding
connections and commonalities among various cultures and
exploring differences.
World history encompasses the entirety of the earth's past. It begins
with the Big Bang and considers all prehistory (before the origin of
written records), ancient history, the middle ages, and the modern
world. To learn about past events, historians use all available
sources. These include archaeological discoveries, oral traditions,
written records, or artistic and musical traditions. World historians
may choose to focus on a specific time period, such as a given
decade or century, exploring that period in detail, or they may wish to
explore a vaster period of history but focus on one particular aspect
or impact, such as the history of a particular commodity or idea.
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World History Topics
While almost any topic can be considered from a global perspective,
past events are often grouped into a few main world history topics.
Some topics studied in world history include wars, diplomatic efforts,
social movements, regional history focusing on several countries in a
common part of the world, communications, trade patterns, and
environmental issues.
Historical Eras: Because attempting to study all of history at
one time is not manageable, studying the past is often divided
into smaller historical eras. Historians can focus on prehistory,
the ancient world, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the
modern world.
Politics: Politics is the study of governments, the individuals
and groups who have power and control how material goods are
distributed among the people of a given area. It also includes
the study of laws, ideologies, and identities. How do various
groups define themselves and their positions on multiple
issues? How has this changed over time? What happens when
various governments, or factions within a government, disagree
with each other?
War: Wars between various groups are major forces that shape
world history. Understanding the causes of wars is a key part of
world history. The study of war can include military history, how
the battles were waged, various types of military armaments
and tactics, and who won, but it can also encompass the impact
of war on different societies, including its effect on the
environment, economy, and culture. Some major wars in world
history include the wars of colonization in the 18th and 19th
centuries, as well as World War I and World War II in the 20th
century.
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Colonialism: Colonialism is an integral part of the study of
world history. Since ancient times, people have sought to
conquer other lands and subjugate the inhabitants. Modern
colonialism came to be as part of the Age of Discovery. As
Europeans traveled to new lands, they declared ownership of
these lands and conquered many indigenous people of the
Americas, Africa, India, and Asia. While in some cases, this led
to the positive sharing of culture and resources, there were also
many negatives, including slavery and other human rights
violations, forced religious conversion, and the destruction of
native environments.
Cultural History
Cultures: Historians study various cultures to develop a greater
appreciation and understanding of those cultures. They may
also compare and contrast different cultures. Some cultures
that may be studied include indigenous peoples, ancient
Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Asians, Africans, Europeans, and
Americans. The study of culture can include written records,
historical information, literature, and artistic and archeological
evidence.
Art: Studying visual art from historical periods offers a window
into what the culture that produced it valued at that time. Art
often portrays significant people and events from a time period,
offering another way to learn about a historical era. From the
time of cave paintings to contemporary art, humans have
recorded what matters to them in visual form. The study of art is
often broken down into artistic periods. Some notable artistic
periods include Romanesque (1100-1150), Renaissance (1400-
1600), Romanticism (1800-1850), Impressionism (1870-1900),
Art Deco (1920-1935), and Surrealism (1924-1945).
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Literature: Reading the literature of a historical era serves as a
primary source to understand that period. Written historical
records, stories, news articles, journals, and biographies speak
to the modern reader from the past, illustrating what mattered
to people of that time and how they reacted to historical events.
In English literature, some significant historical literary periods
include Medieval (500-1500), Renaissance (1500-1670),
Enlightenment (1700-1800), Romantic (1798-1870), Realism
(1820-1920), and Existentialism (1850-Today).
Music: Much like the historical study of visual art, the study of
music history provides insight into the culture of a people.
Musical expression has changed throughout history and differs
in various parts of the world. The history of music can be
approached from a sociological or anthropological viewpoint.
Some prominent historical musical periods include Renaissance,
Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern.
History of the Sciences
Science and Technology: Scientific and technological
developments have a tremendous impact on history. The
invention of the printing press and the internet revolutionized
how information is disseminated. The lightbulb changed how
people lived and worked, allowing factories to run around the
clock. Vaccines have limited the spread of life-threatening
diseases. The development of new weapons changed warfare.
No study of history is complete without learning about
significant scientific discoveries and technological advances.
Philosophy: Philosophical thought and viewpoints have also
impacted history. What people believe shapes what they do. It is
valuable to study the philosophical underpinnings of an era to
gain a fuller understanding of a historical period. Leading
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philosophical ideas that shaped the world include those about
happiness and the soul, the sun-centered theory of the
universe, the distinction between mind and matter, the idea that
the world is governed by mathematical laws, economic
movements such as capitalism and communism, and the theory
of the unconscious. If religion is considered a subset of
philosophy, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and
Buddhism, have had a monumental impact on human history.
Why Study History?
When people think of the subject of history, they often think of lists
of names, dates, and events, which may seem dry and uninteresting.
However, studying history can introduce students to fascinating
stories about the past and provide an understanding of historical
influences on the present. So, Why study history? There are several
answers:
Use Critical Thinking to Interpret the Reasons Behind
Events: History is much more than a series of names and dates.
While historians usually agree on the basic facts of history, there
is often great debate about the reasons behind the events.
Studying history allows students to use critical thinking to
evaluate various sources, examine different viewpoints, and
conclude why things happened.
Build Respect for Other Cultures: Studying history introduces
students to different cultures worldwide and in the United
States. Learning about various traditions and ideas can help
build respect for other cultures, which is of utmost importance
in a diverse culture.
Understand Present Social Issues: The present moment does
not exist in a vacuum. It is a result of everything that has come
before. Studying history gives students a better understanding
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of why things are happening today. They will grasp historical
cause and effect and how today's decisions may impact the
future.
Connect With Other Subjects: The study of history covers
everything that has come before the present and is not limited
to political or military movements. Art, literature, music, and
science are all part of the historical story. What happens in one
field of learning can impact other fields at the same time.
Interesting Career Prospects: College students who major in
history have a wide range of career prospects. These can
include positions in government, museums, and libraries, but
many students use the skills they developed studying history to
succeed in the corporate world.
How to Study for a History Test
Most students have to take history classes as part of their education.
Some standardized tests, like the AP World History exam, also cover
history. Here are some tips on how to study for a history test to get
the best grade possible.
Take Good Notes: Successful studying for a history test begins with
good note-taking in class. Write down anything a teacher puts on the
board or emphasizes in class.
Set Up a Study Schedule: Next to not studying at all, cramming for
a history test in one day is not recommended. Plan to study for
several days before the exam. Studying for a shorter period over a
few days will help memory retention and understanding much more
than trying to stuff a brain full of information the night before the
exam.
Create a Timeline: Make a timeline of the historical period being
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studied; highlight important dates and events; use the textbook and
any class notes to focus on events and people emphasized by the
teacher or the book. Get as familiar as possible with this timeline and
try to recreate it as much as possible from memory. This can help
students determine which areas need to be studied more.
Understand Important Vocabulary: Textbooks usually highlight key
terms, so make sure to review all those terms and be able to define
them.
Review Historical Movements: What changed during the time
period being studied? How was the world different at the end of the
period compared to the beginning? What were the causes of this
change?
Study with Other Students: Some students find it helpful to study
with other classmates. Other students may better understand some
sections of the material and vice versa. Sharing notes can be useful
to make sure all material is covered.
Timeline of World History
A timeline of world history can be broken down into the following
major eras.
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million The study of prehistory focuses on the earliest
years humans and civilizations. It looks at the
Prehistory ago- characteristics that are necessary for civilization.
-3600 The Paleolithic and Neolithic eras are examined.
BCE The Stone Age is part of this period.
Studying the ancient world includes examining
ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Ancient Asian
3600
cultures, such as those in China, India, and
Ancient BCE-
Japan, are also studied. In the Americas, one
World -500
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CE may learn about the ancient Mayan and Incan
peoples. The Bronze Age is studied as part of
ancient history.
The Middle Ages are sometimes referred to as a
dark time in history due to the many wars and
plagues that were present during that period as
well as a relative lack of intellectual pursuits. It
extends from the end of the Roman Empire until
500- the beginning of the Renaissance. In the Middle
Middle Ages -1500 East, Islam was developed and spread as a
CE religious movement that often came into conflict
with Christianity, leading to religious wars called
The Crusades. The late Middle Ages featured the
beginning of European exploration of the
Americas and the Golden Age of Islam, which
included flourishing intellectual activity.
Beginning at the tail end of the Middle Ages, the
Renaissance was a time of intellectual and
artistic rebirth in Europe. The development of
movable type for a printing press in 1436 meant
that printed materials could be distributed to a
1350s- broader audience. There was a massive increase
Renaissance in literacy and the spread of knowledge. The
-1650s
Protestant Reformation, which began with Martin
Luther posting 95 Theses on the door of a
Wittenberg Church in 1517, led to a split in the
Catholic Church. European exploration of the
Americas continued during this period.
The modern world began with the Age of
Enlightenment, a time of increasing focus and
developments in philosophy, science, and math.
During this time, the American and French
Revolutions were fought. In the 1750s, the
Modern 1650-- Industrial Revolution began, changing how
World today products were made and impacting how people
lived, worked, and traveled. The 20th century
was a time of major wars, including World War I
and World War II, and technological advances.
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The Age of Information began in the 1970s with
the increased use of computers.
Ancient World History
The following are some prominent events in ancient world history
(3200 BCE to 500 ACE).
3200 BCE - Egyptians Develop Hieroglyphic Writing:
Hieroglyphics is a form of writing that express events and ideas
in pictures.
2900 BCE - Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt :The 481-foot-
high pyramid was built by about 4000 stonemasons and
100,000 workers.
431--404 BCE - Peloponnesian War: The Peloponnesian War
was fought between the Greek city-states of Sparta and Athens.
Sparta won.
221 BCE - Building of the Great Wall of China: The Great Wall
of China is built along 1200 miles of the Chinese border.
30 CE - Jesus Crucified: Jesus Christ, the central figure of
Christianity, was killed by the Romans.
476 CE - End of Western Roman Empire: Germans defeated
the Roman Emperor and declared themselves rulers of Italy.
History of the Middle Ages
The Middle Ages (500--1500) are often referred to as a dark time in
human history. Here are some of the major events.
503--557 CE - Wars Between Persia and Rome: Three wars
are fought between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Persian
empire. At their conclusion, the borders between them were
firmly established.
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Around 1000 CE - First Novel: The Tale of Genji by Murasaki
Shikibu is a Japanese work often considered the first novel.
1096--1099 CE - First Crusades: Christian states attempted
to defeat Muslims to gain control of the Holy Land. In 1099, the
Christians captured Jerusalem.
1347--1353 CE - The Black Death: Bubonic plague spread
throughout Europe, killing between 19 and 35 million people.
1450 CE - Invention of the Printing Press: Johannes
Guttenberg's invention of the printing press revolutionized the
ability to share printed material, increasing the distribution of
information.
1492 CE - Columbus Lands in the Americas: Under the
patronage of Spain, Columbus attempts to find a westward
route to Asia. He lands on San Salvador.
Modern World History
Modern World History begins in 1500 and lasts until the present day.
It includes the following events.
1775--1781 CE - American Revolution: The American colonies
rebel against Great Britain and establish their independence.
1821 CE - Mexican Independence: Mexico becomes
independent from Spain.
1826/27 CE - First Photograph: Nicéphore Niépce built a
camera obscura and took the first known photograph.
1845--1849 CE - Irish Potato Famine: A potato famine wreaks
havoc in Ireland, leading many Irish to leave the country.
1861--1865 CE - American Civil War: The American Civil War
was fought between the Union and the Confederacy. The Union
won. It led to the abolishment of slavery in the United States.
1912 CE - End of Chinese Empire: The Chinese Empire ended,
and the Republic of China was established.
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1914--1918 CE - World War I: Archduke Ferdinand of Austria
was assassinated, beginning World War I. The United States
joined the war in 1917.
1929 CE - Beginning of Great Depression: The United States
stock market crashed, leading to an economic depression that
would last for the next decade.
1939--1945 CE - World War II: In 1939, the German Nazi party
led by Adolf Hitler invaded Poland and began World War II. The
United States entered the war after the bombing of Pearl Harbor
in 1941. Twelve million Jews were killed in the Holocaust.
1945 CE - United Nations: In the hope of preventing another
world war, the United Nations was founded.
1989 CE - Fall of the Berlin Wall: The wall between East Berlin
and West Berlin was torn down, and Germany reunited.
1990 CE - World Wide Web Invented: The World Wide Web
was invented by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, revolutionizing
communication.
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