AP® World History Teaching Unit C2: Major World Leaders and the Role of the Individual in Society, 1450-1750

[Electronic Document] The period 1450-1750 was a time of "empires in transition" for many areas of the world. The purpose of this four-lesson unit is to examine the leaders of several empires at this time and consider what challenges they faced and how they met those challenges. A broader goal is to have students consider in a general way what it takes to be a successful ruler. The focus is on five major rulers -- Akbar the Great of India, Louis XIV of France, Kangxi of China, Queen Nzinga of Angola, and Tokugawa Ieyasu of Japan.

Lessons include an introduction to the historical model of the Great Individual, with application of the model to the five selected leaders; detailed study in groups of each of the five leaders; a PowerPoint demonstration of the use of architecture and visual art to enhance the prestige of rulers; and an assessment of the relative success of the rulers and the effectiveness of the Great Individual model of history.

In the course of the unit, students study and apply the model of the Great Individual in history, explore five individual leaders in detail through primary source texts, experience the role of art and architecture in conveying greatness, participate in a class debate, and write comparatively.

Length of Document:
46 pages

File Size:
Approximately 300 kb