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 .
