AP World History Unit 4.1 — Technological Innovations (1450–1750)

AP World History – Unit 4.1: Technological Innovations (c. 1450–1750)

This lesson explains how maritime technology—the compass, astrolabe, caravel, lateen sail, sternpost rudder, and advances in astronomy—reshaped the world between 1450 and 1750. Students will learn how cross-cultural exchange across Afro-Eurasia fueled European exploration and how new tools of navigation contributed to the rise of maritime empires.

We follow the AP Themes of Technology and Innovation, Economic Systems, Governance, and Cultural Developments and Interactions, with a focus on the Historical Reasoning Skill of Causation.