#AP World History: Modern - Unit 9: Globalization (1900-Present)

Hey there, future AP World History master! 👋 Unit 9 is the home stretch, and it's all about Globalization and how it's shaped our world from 1900 to today. Think of this as your ultimate guide for acing that exam! Let's get started!

This unit is worth 8-10% of your multiple-choice score and is very likely to appear on SAQ #4. Make sure you're comfortable with the major themes and events!

#🗺️ Unit Overview: The Big Picture

This unit focuses on the theme of globalization, which is the increasing interconnectedness of the world through the exchange of ideas, products, and practices. We’ll be looking at how this process has been shaped by various forces and its impacts on people and societies around the world.

#Key Themes:

• Globalization: The main event! We'll see how it impacts everything.
• SPICE-T: Remember our acronym? We'll analyze globalization through Social, Political, Human-Environment Interaction, Cultural, Economic, and Technological lenses.
• Continuity and Change: How have things stayed the same, and how have they changed over time?
• Causation: What are the causes and effects of globalization?
• Comparison: How does globalization compare across different regions and time periods?

#🕰️ A Note on “Modern” History

Since this is the final unit, many of the topics may feel very recent. Remember, we're still living through the effects of many of these events. This makes it challenging to analyze with the same historical distance as earlier periods. However, we can still use our historical thinking lenses (Causation, Comparison, and CCOT) to understand this period.

#🌐 What is Globalization?

Globalization is the process of interaction and integration among people, organizations, and governments worldwide. It's driven by international trade, investment, and technology. It's not a new phenomenon, but it has accelerated rapidly in the 20th and 21st centuries.

#Early Examples

• Columbian Exchange: An early form of globalization involving the exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between the Americas and the Old World.

#Modern Globalization

• Driven by capitalism and democracy, especially during the Cold War.
• Has led to increased economic opportunities but also displacement and inequality.

#🎯 Learning Objectives

Our main goal is to "explain how the development of new technologies changed the world from 1900 to present.” Keep this in mind as we go through the unit!

#🗓️ Main Events of Unit 9

Here’s a timeline of key events. Think of this as your cheat sheet for the unit:

• 1918-1919: Spanish Flu pandemic 🦠
  • Infected one-fifth of the world's population.
  • Deadlier than the Bubonic plague.
• 1928: Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin 🧪
  • Birth of antibiotics.
• 1948: United Nations adopts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 📜
• 1950s: Green Revolution begins 🌱
  • Increased food production through new agricultural techniques.
• 1950s: Introduction of artificial birth control 💊
• 1971: Greenpeace founded 🌍
  • Environmental activism on the rise.
• 1977: Green Belt Movement begins in Kenya 🌳
  • Combats deforestation.
• 1995: World Trade Organization (WTO) formed ⚖️
  • Regulates international trade.
• 1997: Kyoto Protocol signed 📝
  • First global agreement to reduce carbon emissions.
• 2001: 9/11 terrorist attacks ✈️
  • Major impact on global security.
• 2010s: Arab Spring revolutions ✊
  • Overthrew dictators in North Africa.

#🖼️ Visual Aid

Here's a timeline image to help you visualize the period:

#Image Courtesy of Freemanpedia.

#🧪 New Technologies and Their Impact

Let's zoom in on the tech aspect of globalization. Here are some key areas:

#💊 Medical Advances

• Antibiotics (Penicillin): Revolutionized medicine by fighting bacterial infections.
• Artificial Birth Control: Changed family planning and women's roles in society.

#🚜 Agricultural Innovations

• Green Revolution: Increased food production but also had environmental consequences.

#📡 Communication Technologies

• Internet and Mobile Phones: Connected people globally and accelerated the spread of information.

#✈️ Transportation Technologies

• Air Travel: Made global travel faster and more accessible.
• Containerization: Revolutionized shipping and global trade.

#🌍 Environmental Effects

Globalization has had a major impact on the environment. Here are some key points:

• Deforestation: Driven by agriculture and industrialization.
• Climate Change: Caused by increased carbon emissions from industrial activity.
• Pollution: Air and water pollution from industrial waste.
• Environmental Activism: Rise of movements like Greenpeace and the Green Belt Movement.

#⚖️ Economic Systems

Globalization has transformed economic systems. Here are some key points:

• Rise of Multinational Corporations: Companies operating in multiple countries.
• Free Trade Agreements: Agreements like the WTO have reduced trade barriers.
• Economic Inequality: Globalization has increased the gap between rich and poor.

#🎭 Cultural Exchange

Globalization has led to increased cultural exchange. Here are some key points:

• Spread of Popular Culture: Western culture has spread globally through media and entertainment.
• Cultural Hybridity: Mixing of different cultures.
• Rise of Global Social Movements: Movements like the Arab Spring have been facilitated by social media.

#📝 Final Exam Focus

Okay, let's talk strategy for the exam. Here are the high-priority topics and question types you'll likely see:

#High-Priority Topics

• Globalization: Understand the concept and its various dimensions.
• Technology: Know the major technological developments and their impacts.
• Environmental Issues: Understand the environmental consequences of globalization.
• International Organizations: Know the roles of the UN, WTO, etc.
• Key Events: Be familiar with the major events listed in the timeline.

#Common Question Types

• Multiple Choice: Expect questions that test your knowledge of key events and concepts.
• Short Answer Questions (SAQs): Be ready to analyze primary or secondary sources and explain historical developments.
• Free Response Questions (FRQs): Be prepared to write essays that analyze causation, comparison, and continuity and change over time.

#Last-Minute Tips

• Time Management: Don't spend too much time on any one question.
• Read Carefully: Pay close attention to the question prompts and source materials.
• Use Evidence: Support your answers with specific historical evidence.
• Stay Calm: Take a deep breath and trust your preparation.

#❓ Practice Questions

Here are some practice questions to test your knowledge:

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes the impact of the Green Revolution? (A) It led to a decrease in global food production. (B) It increased food production but also had negative environmental consequences. (C) It had no significant impact on global agriculture. (D) It primarily benefited developed countries and did not affect developing countries.

2. Which of the following is an example of cultural globalization? (A) The establishment of the United Nations. (B) The spread of Western popular culture through media and entertainment. (C) The development of new agricultural technologies. (D) The rise of multinational corporations.

3. The Kyoto Protocol is best known for its attempt to: (A) Establish a global free trade zone. (B) Promote human rights worldwide. (C) Reduce global carbon emissions. (D) Encourage technological innovation.

#Short Answer Question (SAQ)

Analyze the ways in which globalization has affected the environment in the 20th and 21st centuries.

#Free Response Question (FRQ)

Evaluate the extent to which globalization has led to increased interconnectedness in the world from 1900 to the present. In your response, be sure to address social, economic, and technological factors.

Point-by-Point Scoring Breakdown for FRQ

• Thesis (1 point): A clear, historically defensible thesis that addresses the prompt.
• Argument Development (2 points):
  • Provides evidence of increased interconnectedness due to globalization.
  • Explains the social, economic, and technological factors that contributed to this interconnectedness.
• Evidence (2 points):
  • Provides specific historical evidence to support the argument.
  • Evidence should be relevant and accurate.
• Analysis and Reasoning (2 points):
  • Analyzes the connections between the evidence and the argument.
  • Explains the complexities of globalization and its impact on interconnectedness.
• Synthesis (1 point):
  • Extends the argument by connecting it to other historical periods, themes, or disciplines.
  • Demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the topic.

You've got this! Remember to stay focused, use your historical thinking skills, and trust your preparation. Good luck on the exam! 🚀