This elective AP course is a history of Western Civilization from 1450 to present, from the High Renaissance to the recent past. It is designed to provide a basic knowledge of the intellectual-cultural, political-diplomatic, and social-economic history of Europe. The course also provides seven themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places: interaction of Europe and the world, economic and commercial development, cultural and intellectual development, states and other institutions of power, social organization and development, national and European identity, and technological and scientific innovations. Students are prepared for advanced college courses through requiring performance equivalent to those of full-year introductory college courses. Students are encouraged to take the Advanced Placement test at the completion of the course.