AP® European History

​All-Gender Course; Prerequisite - Successful completion of one year of high school social studies;
​Full-year course
COURSE DESCRIPTION
AP® European History is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester introductory college European history course. In this course, students investigate, discuss, and analyze significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in four historical periods that shaped Europe from approximately 1450 to the present. Students develop and use the same skills, practices and methods employed by historians: analysis of historical evidence, contextualization, comparison, causation, change and continuity over time, and argument development. The course is designed around six themes that students explore throughout the year in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places: interaction between Europe and the world, poverty and prosperity, objective knowledge and subjective visions, states and other institutions of power, individual and society, and national and European identity. By the end of this course, students will be able to explain the complex challenges of today through the lens of the European hegemony, have improved their analytical and evaluative writing skills, and have gained the necessary skills for success on the AP® European History Exam in May. 
WHAT STUDENTS SAY

“I’ve learned the value of deeper thought as we have examined many events throughout history in depth in order to reveal larger truths of the world.”

"This course definitely challenges me to think critically and independently, which I haven't yet come across in my academic career."

WHAT STUDENTS DO
Learning is an active process at One Schoolhouse. Students design, create and apply. And, they engage with classmates and connect with their teachers through discussions, video conferences, and projects. Specifically, in this class students will:
  • Set goals that drive their learning. Students reflect regularly on their growth, and meet on video chat with their online teacher to review progress towards their goals.
  • Have choice in how they learn new content and practice new skills. Students are given agency to determine the best ways for them to learn.
  • Apply what they are learning to the real world. Learning is meaningful and connects to concepts outside the classroom.
  • Practice constructive engagement in a diverse and changing world. Students interact with classmates from across the country and around the world.
  • Gain academic maturity. Online learning takes greater discipline and independence than a traditional face-to-face classroom. Teachers support students to build this skill.
MEET A TEACHER FOR THIS COURSE
SIGNATURE ACTIVITIES
​As you learn about European History there are a couple key questions that you should always have in the back of your mind. Investigating these questions throughout the course are essential to understanding the conflicts and actions of the actors in European history. If you are constantly thinking about these questions and how the specific historical events you are investigating indicate changes in these questions, you will be on the right track.

Ultimately, the course is not about regurgitation of facts but about the ability to place those facts into a narrative about the larger themes of the course. These questions will help you do just that.
  • What is true?
  • Am “I” equal?
  • Who has power?
  • What does it mean to “European” and/or from “nation x”?
​
This course centers around using primary sources as the main vehicle historians use to understand and communicate about the past. They will come in many different formats throughout the course. Equally, the course centers around using the events
of the past to help make better understanding of the world around us today. Those
activities come in many formats, but experiences that previous students report really enjoying and/or valuing are:
  • Learning about the Mau Mau Rebellion and its connection to European colonialism.
  • Discussing whether or not we should love or fear Machiavelli’s ideas.
  • Improving the ability to write cause and effect, compare and contrast, and change over time essays.
  • Using art as a way to explore poverty and prosperity in European history
  • Comparing and contrasting the many revolutions and rebellions that swept Europe in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries
COURSE APPROVAL
This course is approved by the College Board and the NCAA. 

One Schoolhouse is fully accredited with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges through December 1, 2025; we are an approved online publisher for the University of California. ​
Donny Pyles
Humanities Teacher
BA Roanoke College
M.Ed The College of William and Mary