As the AP Art History exam approaches make sure to use all of Fiveable's resources to study and prepare for the exam and check out the brief explanation of the structure of the exam.

*On the digital exam, works of art will not be identified and students will not be asked to explain the identifying information.

AP Art History Cheat Sheet PDF & Review Chart

Check out this review chart that covers all of the key concepts and ideas that you need to understand for the AP Art History exam.

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

Contextualization (AKA the Historical Background) 

Summary of Unit 1 Works

Unit 1 Overview: Global Prehistory, 30,000-500 BCE

The FFCCs of Unit 1 

Apollo 11 Stones

Great Hall of Bulls

Camelid Sacrum in the Shape of a Canine

Running Horned Woman

Bushel with Ibex Motifs

Anthropomorphic Stele

Jade Cong

Stonehenge

Ambum Stone

Tlatilco Female Figurines

Terra-Cotta Fragment

Unit 1 Required Works

The Near East (3500 BCE–300 CE)   

Egypt (3000–30 BCE) 

Greece (900–30 BCE)

Etruria (900-270 BCE)

Rome (750 BCE -350 CE)

Unit 2 Overview: Ancient Mediterranean, 3500-300 BCE

Archaic (600–480 BCE)

Sculpture

Classical (480–323 BCE)

Architecture

Pottery

Hellenistic (323–30 BCE)

Painting

Greece (600–30 BCE) 🇬🇷

Etruria (900-270 BCE) 🇮🇹

General Overview

Theories in Mediterranean Artwork

Closing Thoughts

Theories and Interpretations of Ancient Mediterranean Art

White Temple and its Ziggurat

Pallete of King Narmer 

Statues of Votive Figures

Seated Scribe

Standard of Ur 

Great Pyramids (Menkaura, Khafre, Khufu) and Great Sphinx

King Menkaura and Queen

The Code of Hammurabi

Temple of Amun-Re and Hypostyle Hall

Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut

Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and Three Daughters

Tutankhamun’s Tomb, Innermost Coffin

Last Judgement of Hunefer


Lamassu from the Citadel of Sargon II,

Athenian Agora

Anavysos Kouros

Peplos Kore

Sarcophagus of the Spouses 

Audience Hall of Darius and Xerxes

Temple of Minerva and Sculpture of Apollo

Tomb of the Triclinium

Niobides Krater

Doryphoros (Spear Bearer) 

Acropolis

Grave Stele of Hegeso 

Winged Victory of Samothrace

Great Altar of Zeus and Athena at Pergamon

House of the Vettii

Alexander Mosaic

Seated Boxer

Head of a Roman Patrician

Augustus of Prima Porta

Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater)

Forum of Trajan

Pantheon 

Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus

Unit 2 Required Works

Contextualization (AKA The Historical Background) 

Key Events in Early Europe and the Americas, 200-1750 CE

Edict of Milan and the "Peace of the Church" 🕊️

Formation of the Byzantine Empire 

Iconoclastic Controversy 

Spread of Islam into al-Andalus

Hundred Years' War 

Black Death of 1348

Italian and Northern Renaissance

Protestant Reformation 

Spanish Conquest of the Americas 

Unit 3 Overview: Early Europe and Colonial Americas, 200-1750 CE

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: 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)

Overview of Indigenous America Art by Region

Chavín

Mayan

Anasazi

Mississippian

Aztec

Incan

Native North America 

Summary of the Works

Unit 5 Overview: Indigenous Americas, 1000 BCE-1980 CE

Chavín 🇵🇪

Mayan 🇲🇽 🇧🇿 🇭🇳 🇸🇻 🇬🇹

Anasazi 🇺🇸

Mississippian 🇺🇸

Aztec 🇲🇽

Incan 🇵🇪 🇪🇨 🇧🇴 🇦🇷 🇨🇱 🇨🇴

Native North America 🇺🇸 🇨🇦

Summary of the works

Indigenous American Art by Regions

Architecture 

Sculpture 

Unit 6 Overview: Africa, 1100-1980 CE

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 Works to Know 🖼

Art Forms and Styles of South, East, and Southeast Asia 

Painting and Calligraphy

Ceramics and Metal Art

Sculpture and Construction

Textile

Trade

Politics

Major Religious Exchange

Buddhism 

Islam 

Interactions Within and Across Cultures in South, East, and Southeast Asian Art

Contextualization (AKA The Historical Religious Background) 🌏

Download AP Art History Cheat Sheet PDF Cram Chart

Download AP Art History Cheat Sheet PDF Cram Chart

AP Art History 🖼

Get Ready for the AP Art History Exam

Multiple Choice Section

Free Response Section

AP Art History Cheat Sheet PDF & Review Chart

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