#AP Art History: Global Prehistory - Night Before Review 🚀

Hey there, future art historian! Let's get you prepped for the exam with a super-focused review of Global Prehistory. We'll break down key artworks, connect the dots, and make sure you're feeling confident. Let's do this! 💪

#1. Introduction: Setting the Stage (30,000 - 500 BCE)

This period covers a HUGE span of time and cultures, so let's nail down the basics:

• Materials: Think natural! Rock (sandstone, limestone, granite), clay, bone, ivory, shells. Pigments like ochre, charcoal, and manganese for color. 🎨
• Processes: Carving, modeling, pottery making (using the wheel and kilns). Rock art involved pecking and carving. 🔨
• Techniques: Engraving, relief, painting, stippling, cross-hatching, and early attempts at perspective.
• New Tech: Metalworking (bronze, gold, silver) emerged later, allowing for new artistic possibilities. ✨

#2. Key Artworks: Deep Dive 🔍

Let's explore some must-know pieces. Remember, AP loves to ask about context, function, and form, so we'll cover all the bases.

#2.1. Camelid Sacrum in the Shape of a Canine

• Culture: Moche (Pre-Columbian South America)
• Material: Camelid (llama/alpaca) sacrum bone.
• Function: Likely used in religious ceremonies or burials. 💀
• Form: Carved to resemble a canine (dog-like) animal. The natural curve of the bone was used to create the form.

#2.2. Running Horned Woman

• Culture: North Africa (Algeria).
• Material: Rock painting using pigments (charcoal, ochre).
• Function: Possibly used in religious rituals, may represent a goddess or supernatural being. 🙏
• Form: Depicts a woman with horned headdress, running, adorned with jewelry and clothing.

#2.3. Beaker with Ibex Motifs

• Culture: Susa, Iran (Beaker culture).
• Material: Ceramic pottery.
• Function: Used for drinking or ritual purposes. 🍶
• Form: Bell-shaped beaker with incised ibex (wild mountain goat) motifs. Geometric patterns are also common.

#2.4. Anthropomorphic Stele

• Culture: Arabian Peninsula.
• Material: Sandstone.
• Function: Commemorate important individuals, mark graves/tombs. 🪦
• Form: Upright stone slab with a human-like figure carved in relief. Often has symbolic or religious significance.

#2.5. Jade Cong

• Culture: Liangzhu, China.
• Material: Jade (nephrite).
• Function: Used in rituals and ceremonies, buried with the dead. ⚱️
• Form: Hollow tube-like object with intricate designs and patterns. The square shape represents earth, while the circle represents heaven.

#2.6. Terra Cotta Fragment

• Culture: Lapita (Solomon Islands, Pacific).
• Material: Terra cotta (fired clay).
• Function: Part of a larger vessel, likely used for cooking or storage. 🏺
• Form: Fragment of pottery with intricate geometric patterns and human-like faces.

Understanding the use of materials and techniques in different cultures is crucial. Focus on how the environment and available resources influenced artistic choices.

#3. Summary: Key Themes and Connections 💡

Okay, let's zoom out and see the big picture:

• Ritual & Ceremony: Many of these artworks were used in religious or ceremonial contexts. Think about the spiritual beliefs of the cultures.
• Symbolism: Animal motifs, geometric patterns, and human-like figures often had symbolic meanings.
• Materials & Tech: The materials and techniques used were influenced by the environment and the level of technological development.
• Cultural Diversity: Global Prehistory shows a wide range of artistic styles and practices across different cultures.

#4. Final Exam Focus: Last-Minute Tips 🎯

• Prioritize: Focus on the key artworks and their contexts. Know their function, form, and cultural significance.
• Connect: Look for connections between different artworks and cultures. How did they influence each other?
• Time Management: Don't spend too much time on one question. Move on and come back if you have time.
• FRQs: Practice writing clear and concise responses. Use specific examples and art historical vocabulary.
• MCQs: Read the questions carefully and eliminate obviously wrong answers.
• Stay Calm: You've got this! Take deep breaths and trust your preparation. 🧘

#5. Practice Questions

Time to test your knowledge! Here are some practice questions to get you in the exam mindset.

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The "Running Horned Woman" is significant for its: (A) Use of metalworking techniques (B) Depiction of a female figure with horns (C) Representation of a historical event (D) Use of perspective

2. Which of the following materials was NOT commonly used in the creation of art during the Global Prehistory period? (A) Clay (B) Bronze (C) Bone (D) Rock

3. The jade cong is most closely associated with which culture? (A) Moche (B) Lapita (C) Liangzhu (D) Beaker

Free Response Question

Analyze the ways in which the materials and techniques used in the creation of the "Camelid Sacrum in the Shape of a Canine" and the "Jade Cong" reflect the cultural values and beliefs of their respective societies. Be sure to address the following:

• The specific materials used in each artwork and why they were chosen.
• The techniques used to create each artwork.
• How the form and function of each artwork reflect the cultural values and beliefs of the society that created it.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear and defensible thesis statement that addresses the prompt.
• Analysis of Materials (2 points): Discussion of the materials used in each artwork and why they were chosen (e.g., availability, symbolic meaning).
• Analysis of Techniques (2 points): Discussion of the techniques used to create each artwork and how they contributed to the overall form and function.
• Analysis of Cultural Values (2 points): Explanation of how the form and function of each artwork reflect the cultural values and beliefs of the society that created it.
• Evidence and Support (2 points): Use of specific details and examples from the artworks to support the analysis.

That's it! You've covered a lot of ground. Go get some rest, and remember, you're ready for this! You've got the knowledge, now go show the AP exam what you're made of! 🎉