The AP® History Help Podcast

    Mastering the Complexity Point: 

Is Trade the Most Important Development in History?

 Can a single peppercorn or a lump of coal change the course of an entire civilization? In Episode 55 of AP History Help, host Wendy explores why trade is the ultimate "engine" of history across AP World, AP European, and AP US History. We move beyond dates and names to look at history as a series of transactions that fueled the spread of religions like Buddhism and Islam, sparked the Commercial and Market Revolutions, and ultimately weaponized global supply chains during the World Wars. Whether you are preparing for a DBQ or an LEQ, this episode provides the specific evidence and "complexity" framing needed to argue how economic interdependence shifted the balance of power and redefined the modern state. 

 Shattering the Narrative: The Women Who Defied History

 (AP World, Euro, & APUSH)   

Stop writing basic essays about how women throughout history were just oppressed under patriarchy; to earn the "complexity point" on your AP World, AP Euro, and APUSH exams, you need to know the exceptions. This cross-course deep dive explores the dynamic women and unique societies that broke the historical rules. From powerful rulers who dominated their eras like Empress Theodora, Queen Elizabeth I, and Empress Dowager Cixi, to defying gender norms like warrior Joan of Arc and the pirate fleet commander Ching Shih, we supply the evidence you need for nuanced arguments. We also examine intellectual revolutionaries like Mary Wollstonecraft (and her connection to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein), suffrage organizers Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and matrilineal societies among the Mongols and in Southeast Asia. Listen now to master the "despite" and "although" statements that will elevate your DBQ and LEQ responses and help you earn complexity.

   The Prism of Isms: Decoding History’s Favorite Suffix  

Are you struggling to keep your "isms" straight? Whether you are prepping for AP European History, APUSH, or AP World, that little three-letter suffix is the key to unlocking the major eras of history. In this deep dive episode of AP History Help, we decode the essential vocabulary you need to master your LEQs and DBQs.  Join us as we break down the complex systems of power, from the rigid land ownership of Feudalism to the absolute authority of the Monarchy. We trace the economic shifts from Mercantilism to Capitalism and Socialism, and explore how art mirrored the mind through Romanticism, Realism, and Impressionism. 

Holiday  Fun Fact: 

How Theodore Roosevelt’s Jingoism helped save American football.

Musical Interlude: 

A lyrical breakdown to help these terms stick in your memory. 

 Why Everyone Moved: The Engine of History - Human Migrations   

 Discover the untold story of human movement with AP History Help! This episode dives into "Why Everyone Moved" by exploring Human Migrations as a fundamental force in AP World, AP European, and AP U.S. History. Unpack the push and pull factors that drove people across continents, from the ancient Bantu Migrations in Africa to the devastating Irish Potato Famine migration to America, and the pivotal Great Migration of African Americans within the U.S. Learn how migration is the ultimate lens for understanding Causation and Continuity & Change in history, shaping societies, economies, and cultures globally. We'll provide specific historical examples for each AP course and reveal potential FRQ topics on migration for your AP exams. Tune in to see how this hidden engine connects every period and place!