AP European History AMSCO Guided Notes
AP European History AMSCO Guided Notes88 chapters of study guides with key terms and essential questions
All Chapters
Unit 1 - Renaissance and Exploration c. 1450 to c. 1648
1.1Contextualizing Renaissance and Discovery
1.2Italian Renaissance
1.3Northern Renaissance
1.4Printing
1.5New Monarchies
1.6Technological Advances and the Age of Exploration
1.7Rivals on the World Stage
1.8Colonial Expansion and Columbian Exchange
1.9The Slave Trade
1.10The Commercial Revolution
1.11Causation in the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery
Unit 2 - The Age of Reformation c. 1450 to c. 1648
2.1Contextualizing 16th- and 17th-Century Challenges and Developments
2.2Luther and the Protestant Reformation
2.3Protestant Reform Continues
2.4Wars of Religion
2.5The Catholic Reformation
2.616th-Century Society and Politics
2.7Art of the 16th Century: Mannerism and Baroque Art
2.8Causation in the Age of Reformation and the Wars of Religion
Unit 3 - Absolutism and Constitutionalism c. 1648 to c. 1815
3.1Contextualizing State Building
3.2The English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution
3.3Continuities and Changes to Economic Practice and Development
3.4Economic Development and Mercantilism
3.5The Dutch Golden Age
3.6Balance of Power
3.7Absolutist Approaches to Power
3.8Comparison in the Age of Absolutism and Constitutionalism
Unit 4 - Scientific, Philosophical, and Political Development c. 1648 to c. 1815
4.1Contextualizing the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment
4.2The Scientific Revolution
4.3The Enlightenment
4.418th-Century Society and Demographics
4.518th-Century Culture and Arts
4.6Enlightened and Other Approaches to Power
4.7Causation in the Age of the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment
Unit 5 - Conflict, Crisis, and Reaction in the Late 18th Century c. 1648 to c. 1815
Unit 6 - Industrialization and Its Effects c. 1815 to c. 1914
6.1Contextualizing Industrialization and Its Origins and Effects
6.2The Spread of Industry Throughout Europe
6.3Second Wave Industrialization and Its Effects
6.4Social Effects of Industrialization
6.5The Concert of Europe and European Conservatism
6.6Reactions and Revolutions
6.7Ideologies of Change and Reform Movements
6.819th-Century Social Reform
6.9Institutional Responses and Reform
6.10Causation in the Age of Industrialization
Unit 7 - 19th-Century Perspectives and Political Developments c. 1815 to c. 1914
7.1Contextualizing 19th-Century Perspectives and Political Developments
7.2Nationalism
7.3National Unification and Diplomatic Tensions
7.4Darwinism, Social Darwinism
7.5Age of Progress and Modernity
7.6New Imperialism: Motivations and Methods
7.7Imperialism's Global Effects
7.819th-Century Culture and Arts
7.9Causation in 19th-Century Perspectives and Political Developments
Unit 8 - 20th-Century Global Conflicts c. 1914 to Present
8.1Contextualizing 20th-Century Global Conflicts
8.2World War I
8.3The Russian Revolution and Its Effects
8.4Versailles Conference and Peace Settlement
8.5Global Economic Crisis
8.6Fascism and Totalitarianism
8.7Europe During the Interwar Period
8.8World War II
8.9The Holocaust
8.1020th-Century Cultural, Intellectual, and Artistic Developments
8.11Continuity and Change in an Age of Global Conflict
Unit 9 - Cold War and Contemporary Europe c. 1914 to Present
9.1Contextualizing Cold War and Contemporary Europe
9.2Rebuilding Europe
9.3The Cold War
9.4Two Super Powers Emerge
9.5Postwar Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict, and Atrocities
9.6Contemporary Western Democracies
9.7The Fall of Communism
9.820th-Century Feminism
9.9Decolonization
9.10The European Union
9.11Migration and Immigration
9.12Technology
9.13Globalization
9.1420th- and 21st-Century Culture, Arts, and Demographic Trends
9.15Continuity and Change in the 20th and 21st Centuries
About AMSCO AP European History
The AMSCO Advanced Placement European History textbook provides comprehensive coverage of European history from c. 1450 to the present. Now in its 2nd edition by Lou Gallo and Robert Wade, the text is organized around the four chronological periods and nine units outlined in the College Board's course framework.
European history spans centuries of political revolutions, intellectual movements, and social transformations. AMSCO breaks down this complex narrative into focused chapters covering everything from the Renaissance and Reformation through the World Wars and contemporary Europe. Each chapter features primary source analysis and document-based question practice.
Our guided notes help you navigate each AMSCO chapter systematically. The questions guide you through key developments like the Enlightenment, industrialization, nationalism, and European integration while building the analytical skills needed for AP exam success.
What This AMSCO Covers
- Covers c. 1450 to present across 4 periods
- Primary source documents in every unit
- DBQ and essay writing instruction
- Focus on causation and continuity/change over time
Frequently Asked Questions
What are AMSCO guided notes?
AMSCO guided notes are structured worksheets designed to accompany the AMSCO AP European History textbook. Instead of passive reading, guided notes provide questions and prompts that help you actively engage with each chapter. As you read, you answer questions that focus your attention on key concepts, cause-and-effect relationships, and important details that are likely to appear on the AP exam.
How do I use these guided notes with my AMSCO AP European History textbook?
Open the guided notes alongside your AMSCO textbook. As you read each section, look for answers to the guided questions. Write your responses in the space provided (if you print them) or take notes separately. The questions follow the structure of the AMSCO chapters, so you can work through them section by section. This active reading approach helps you retain information better than highlighting or re-reading alone.
Are these guided notes aligned to the AP AP European History exam?
Yes. The AMSCO textbook itself is written to align with the College Board's AP Course and Exam Description, and our guided notes follow the AMSCO chapter structure. This means the questions focus on the content, skills, and historical thinking processes that the AP exam tests. Using guided notes as part of your study routine helps you prepare for both the multiple-choice and free-response sections of the exam.
Can I print these guided notes?
Yes. Each guided notes page includes print and download options. You can print them with or without answer space depending on how you prefer to take notes. Many students find it helpful to print the notes and fill them in by hand while reading, as handwriting can improve retention. You can also download them as PDFs to annotate digitally.
Where can I find the AP European History AMSCO textbook PDF?
You can sometimes find PDF files for AMSCO textbooks on teacher websites if you search online or on Reddit. The PDF is not publicly available for free. If you purchase the AMSCO textbook through Perfection Learning, you will get an online version of it.
What is the AMSCO textbook and why is it popular?
AMSCO (published by Perfection Learning) is a series of AP exam preparation textbooks known for being concise and accessible. Unlike bulky college-level textbooks, AMSCO books focus specifically on what students need to know for the AP exam. The AP European History AMSCO is written by experienced AP teachers and exam readers, making it practical and exam-focused. Many teachers use it as either their primary text or as a supplement for AP exam review.
How are guided notes different from regular notes?
Regular notes require you to decide what's important while reading, which can be challenging with dense material. Guided notes provide structure by giving you specific questions to answer as you read. This keeps you focused on key concepts rather than getting lost in details. Research shows that guided notes improve comprehension and test performance because they require active processing of information rather than passive copying.