Here is a summary of the works that are reviewed in this unit!

AP Art History

From these reviews, you will fully comprehend art from the global prehistory period (30,000–500 BCE), unit 1, of the AP Art History exam. We cover all 11 works of this unit as well as their FFCC (forms, functions, contents, and contexts). You'll also be able to contextualize the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. 

Unit 1 – Global Prehistoric Art, 30,000-500 BCE

The ancient Mediterranean is home to some of the most renowned artworks and historical sites. You'll be able to contexualize this period and demostrate an understanding of all the artfwork from this unit. Specifically, we cover artwork from the near east (3500 BCE-300 CE), Greece (600-30 BCE), Etruria (900-270 BCE), and Rome.  

Unit 2 – Ancient Mediterranean Art, 3500-300 BCE

In this unit, we'll go over the artistic movements of Europe from 200 to 1750 CE and explain how peoples' conversions to religions like Christianity and Islam and historical events influenced the art made there. You'll also be able to contextualize art from this period–Early Europe and Colonial Americas (200–1750 CE). 

Unit 3 – Early European and Colonial American Art, 200-1750 CE

In this unit, we'll get to see how different historical events and social problems from 1750 to 1980 have influenced the art made in each period and how that has influenced the works that we see today. You'll learn about art from later Europe and Americas (1750–1980 CE) and how to contexualize the period. Prepare for the test with these resources!

Unit 4 – Later European and American Art, 1750-1980 CE

We'll explore works made by indigenous (native) American artists, both before and after European colonization (pre-Columbian and post-Columbian), and see how the region's distinctive cultures have influenced the art made there. You'll understand the historical background and contrast these works from those made by mestizo artists.

Unit 5 – Indigenous American Art, 1000 BCE-1980 CE

With more than 3,000 different ethnic groups and 2,100 languages spoken on the continent, Africa is extremely ethnically diverse, and we can see this through its art. You'll learn about art from Africa (1100–1980 CE) and how to contextualize this unit. Explore African architecture such as in Great Zimbabwe and the Great Mosque of Djenné!

Unit 6 – African Art, 1100-1980 CE

The works from West and Central Asia are incredibly diverse in media, function, and pretty much every other identifier. Learn the artworks you need to know from West and Central Asia (500 BCE–1980 CE), how to contextualize this unit, period characteristics, and the FFCC (forms, functions, contents, and contexts) of all the artworks. 

Unit 7 – West and Central Asian Art, 500 BCE-1980 CE

Understand the influence of different religions and philosophies on people's beliefs and how this translates to their artwork. We'll also learn more about cross-cultural interactions on the continent between Europeans and native groups, and how this led to artistic syncretism. Some specific countries we cover are China, the Koreas, and Japan.

Unit 8 – South, East, and Southeast Asian Art, 300 BCE-1980 CE

Spread across approximately 25,000 islands, the Pacific region is one of the most expansive and remote places in AP Art History. We cover all the works from the Pacific (700–1980 CE), their location, form, and date. You'll be able to contextualize this unit and master the FFCC (forms, functions, contents, and contexts) of all the artworks.

Unit 9: The Pacific, 700–1980 ce 

Welcome to the final unit of AP Art History! You'll learn about art from the global contemporary period (1980 CE to present). We cover all the works you need to know as well as their location, form, and date. You'll be able to contextualize this unit and master the architecture, paintings, and sculptures of this period.

Unit 10 – Global Contemporary Art, 1980 CE to Present

Frequently Asked Questions

Exam Reviews

AP Cram Sessions 2021

Unit 1: Global Prehistory (30,000–500 BCE)

Contextualization (AKA the Historical Background) 🌍

The FFCCs of Unit 1 🖼️

Summary of the Works

Unit 1: Global Prehistory, 30,000–500 BCE

Unit 2 Overview

The Near East (3500 BCE–300 CE)  🇹🇷 🇸🇾 🇮🇶 🇮🇷 

Sumer (3500–2340 BCE)

Babylonia (1792–1750 BCE)

Assyria (883–612 BCE)

Persia (559-331 BCE)

Egypt (3000–30 BCE) 🇪🇬

Architecture

Painting

Sculpture

Unit 2 Intro and the Near East (3500 BCE–300 CE) 

Archaic (600–480 BCE)

Classical (480–323 BCE)

Pottery

Hellenistic (323–30 BCE)

Greece (600–30 BCE) 🇬🇷

Etruria (900-270 BCE) 🇮🇹

Rome 🇮🇹 

Closing Thoughts

Rome 🇮🇹

Unit 3 Overview

Contextualization (AKA The Historical Background) 🌍 🌎

Early Europe and Colonial Americas, 200-1750 CE Period Characteristics

Characteristics of Artistic Movements

Late Antique

Byzantine

Islamic

Early Medieval

Romanesque

Gothic

Northern Renaissance

Early Renaissance

High Renaissance

Mannerism

Baroque

New Spain

Unit 4 Overview

Contextualization (AKA The Historical Background) 🌍 🌎 

Unit 4: Later Europe and Americas, 1750-1980 CE

Artistic Movements and their Characteristics

Rococo (1700-1750 CE)

Neoclassicism (1750-1815 CE)

Romanticism (1789-1848 CE)

Realism (1848-1860s)

Impressionism (1872-1880s)

Post-Impressionism (1880s-1890s)

Symbolism (1890s)

Art Nouveau (1890s-1914)

The Prairie Style (1900-1930s)

Fauvism (1905-1908)

Expressionism (1905-1930s)

Cubism (1907-1930s)

Constructivism (1914-1920s)

Dada (1915-1922)

DeStijl (1917-1930s)

The International Style (1920s-1930s)

The Harlem Renaissance (1920s-1930s)

Mexican Muralists (1920s-1930s)

Surrealism (1924-1930s)

Abstract Expressionism/The New York School (1940s-1950s)

Pop Art (1955-1970s)

Color Field Painting (1960s)

Happenings (1960s)

Site Art (1970s-1990s)

Unit 5 Overview

Contextualization (AKA the Historical Background) 🌎

Indigenous Americas, 1000 BCE-1980 CE Period Characteristics

Chavín 🇵🇪

Mayan 🇲🇽 🇧🇿 🇭🇳 🇸🇻 🇬🇹

Anasazi 🇺🇸

Mississippian 🇺🇸

Aztec 🇲🇽

Incan 🇵🇪 🇪🇨 🇧🇴 🇦🇷 🇨🇱 🇨🇴

Native North America 🇺🇸 🇨🇦

Summary of the works

Indigenous American Art by Regions

Unit 6 Overview

Architecture 🇿🇼 🇲🇱

Sculpture 🇳🇬 🇬🇭 🇨🇮 🇸🇱🇨🇩 🇨🇲 🇬🇦 🇦🇴

Africa, 1100-1980 CE

Summary of Works to Know 🖼

Contextualization (AKA Historical Background) 🌏

Overview

West Asia

Petra

The Kaaba

Dome of the Rock

Great Mosque (Masjid-e Jameh)

Folio from a Qur'an

Basin (Baptistière de Saint Louis)

Bahram Gur Fights the Karg

The Court of Gayumars

The Ardabil Carpet

Central Asia

Buddhas of Bamiyan 

Jowo Rinpoche

Summary of the Works  

Contextualization (AKA The Historical Religious Background) 🌏

Buddhism ☸️

Hinduism 🕉️

Daoism ☯️

Confucianism 👴🏻 👶🏽

Shintoism ⛩️

Christianity ⛪

Islam ☪️

India and Southeast Asia 🇮🇳 🇮🇩 🇰🇭

Architecture and Sculpture

Hinduism

China and the Koreas 🇨🇳 🇰🇵 🇰🇷

Japan 🇯🇵

Painting and Printmaking

Summary of Works

Unit 9 Overview

Contextualization (AKA the Historical Background) 🌏

Period Characteristics The Pacific, 700-1980 CE

Micronesia 🇫🇲 🇲🇭

Nan Madol

Female Deity from Nukuoro (Tino Aitu)

Navigation Chart

Hawaii 🇺🇸

'Ahu 'ula

Cook Islands 🇨🇰

Staff God

Niue 🇳🇺

Hiapo (Tapa) from Niue

New Zealand 🇳🇿

Tamati Waka Nene

Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬

Malagan Mask

Australia 🇦🇺

Buk (Mask)

Fiji 🇫🇯

Presentation of Fijian Mats and Tapa Cloths to Queen Elizabeth II

Easter Island (Rapa Nui) 🇨🇱

Moai on Platform (ahu)

Regions

Unit 10: Global Contemporary, 1980 CE to Present

Contextualization (AKA The Historical Background) 🌎 

Painting and Sculpture

Global Contemporary, 1980 CE to Present

AP Art History Exam Guide

Format of the 2021 AP Art History Exam 

Section 1: Multiple Choice Questions 🤓 

 Section 2: Free Response Questions 🤓 

Pre-work: set up your study environment

Your guide to the 2022 AP Art History exam

Format of the 2022 AP Art History exam

Scoring Rubric for the 2022 AP Art History exam

When is the 2022 AP Art History exam and how do I take it?

How should I prepare for the exam?

AP Art History 2022 Study Plan

🗿 Unit 1: Global Prehistory, 3000–500 BCE

🏛  Unit 2: Ancient Mediterranean, 3500 BCE–300 CE

⛪️ Unit 3: Early Europe and Colonial Americas, 200–1750 CE

⚔️ Unit 4: Later Europe and Americas, 1750–1980 CE

🌽 Unit 5: Indigenous Americas, 1000 BCE –1980 CE

⚱️ Unit 6: Africa, 1100–1980 CE

🕌 Unit 7: West and Central Asia, 500 BCE–1980 CE


🛕 Unit 8: South, East, and Southeast Asia, 300 BCE–1980 CE

🐚 Unit 9: The Pacific, 700–1980 CE

🏢 Unit 10: Global Contemporary, 1980 CE to Present

2022 AP Art History Exam Guide

Art	Location	Form	Date
Nan Madol	Pohnpei, Micronesia	Basalt	c. 700-1600
Female Deity	Nukuoro, Micronesia	Wood	18th-19th century
Navigation Chart	Marshall Islands	Wood and fiber	19th-early 20th century
'Ahu 'ula	Hawaii	Feathers and fiber	late 18th century
Staff God	Rarotonga, Cook Islands	Tapa, fiber, wood, and feathers	late 18th-early 19th century
Hiapo (Tapa) from Niue	Niue	Tapa and paint	c. 1850-1900
Tamati Waka Nene	New Zealand	Oil paint on canvas	1890
Malagan Mask	New Ireland, Papua New Guinea	Wood, fiber, pigment, and shell	c. 20th century
Buk (Mask)	Torres Strait Islands, Australia	Wood, fiber, feather, and turtle shell	19th century
Presentation of Fijian Mats and Tapa Cloths to Queen Elizabeth II	Fiji	Photograph (silver gelatin print) of a multimedia performance	1953
Moai on Platform (Ahu)	Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Chile	Tuff and basalt	c. 1100-1600

Summary of Works to Know 🖼

AP Art History 🖼

Summary of Works

Fiveable

About Us

Resources

Stay Connected

Fiveable

About Us

Resources