THE ADAMSON ADVENTURE
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  • AP World Resources
    • Unit 1: The Global Tapestry (1200-1450)
    • Unit 2: Networks of Exchange (1200-1450)
    • Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (1450-1750)
    • Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections (1450-1750)
    • Unit 5: Revolutions (1750-1900)
    • Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization (1750-1900)
    • Unit 7: Global Conflict (1900-present)
    • Unit 8: Cold War & Decolonization (1900-present)
    • Unit 9: Globalization (1750-1900)
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    • AP World Resources 2.0 >
      • Unit 1: 2.0 The Global Tapestry (1200-1450)
      • Unit 2: 2.0 Networks of Exchange (1200-1450)
      • Unit 3: 2.0 Land-Based Empires (1450-1750)
      • Unit 4: 2.0 Transoceanic Interconnections (1450-1750)
      • Unit 5: 2.0 Revolutions (1750-1900)
      • Unit 6: 2.0 Consequences of Industrialization (1750-1900)
      • Unit 7: 2.0 Global Conflict (1900-present)
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Unit 4: Transoceanic Connections
c. 1450 - 1750
12-15% of AP Exam


My resources are not publicly available.
Please visit the main page to learn how to gain access to the materials on this site. ​

Unit 4 Planning Resources​

  • Unit 3-4 Combined Pacing Guide Updated 9/2026
  • Unit 4 Topics Outline

Unit 4 Presentations ​

  • Topic 4.1 & 4.2: Maritime Empires - Causes & Events 
  • Topic 4.3: Columbian Exchange
  • Topic 4.4: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
  • Topic 4.4: Coercive Labor Systems 
  • Topic 4.5: Establishing Maritime Empires 
  • Topic 4.5: Maintaining and Developing Maritime Empires

Unit 4 Handouts & Activities ​

  • Topics 4.2 & 4.4 - Maritime Empires Graphic Organizer
  • ​Maritime Empires CCOT Chart 
  • Topic 4.4 Coercive Labor Systems Graphic Organizer
  • Topic 4.3 Columbian Exchange Causation Graphic Organizer 
  • Silver Trade DBQ Skills Practice Handout Updated 9/2026
  • Silver Trade DBQ documents (PDF) 
  • ​Silver Trade DBQ Example Added 9/2026

Maritime Exploration - Technology, Causes, and Outcomes Inquiry Lesson

This inquiry lesson covers Topic 4.1 and 4.2​  
  • Student Handout
  • Documents (as one page) 
  • Documents (one per page to use for stations or jigsaw)

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Inquiry Lesson 

This inquiry lesson covers Topic 4.4
  • Documents
  • Student Handout 
  • Article: “An African Country Reckons with Its History of Selling Slaves” by Kevin Sieff via Washington Post Q's 


Challenges to State Power

This activity covers Topic 4.6
I use this as a jigsaw activity where I assign students a different resistance movement and roll a dice to see which person has to present theirs in front of the class. 
  • ​​Graphic Organizer

​Columbian Exchange Project​

This project covers Topic 4.3
  • Columbian Exchange Project Student Research Handout
  • Columbian Exchange Student Gallery Walk Handout
  • Columbian Exchange Project Rubric

Casta Paintings WebQuest ​

This activity covers Topics 4.7
  • Casta Paintings WebQuest
  • Collection of Casta Paintings

Teaching the DBQ Packet ​

  • Teaching the DBQ Packet (Unit 4 Content)
  • ​First DBQ Sample Essay

Unit 4 Review Resources

  • Unit 4 Study Guide
  • Unit 4 Brain Dump Updated 9/2026
  • Unit 3 & 4 Review Handout Added 9/2026

Unit 4 Handout Keys​

A note about answer keys: 
Access to answer keys requires a separate donation and proof that you are an educator (photo of your ID or use of your district email address which connects to a staff version of your school's website). If you would like access or have questions please view the information posted on the MAIN PAGE. 
​
  • Maritime Empires Graphic Organizer Answer Key
  • ​Maritime Empires CCOT Chart Answer Key
  • Coercive Labor Systems Graphic Organizer Answer Key
  • Columbian Exchange Causation Graphic Organizer Answer Key
  • ​Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Inquiry Lesson Answer Key
  • Unit 4 Study Guide Answer Key
​

 Unit 4 Vocabulary

  • Unit 4 Vocabulary
  • ​Unit 4 Vocabulary PDF

Unit 4 Helpful Links

  • Freemanpedia: Unit 4​
  • Heimler's History: Technological Innovations (Topic 4.1)
  • Heimler's History: Exploration Causes & Events (Topic 4.2) 
  • Heimler's History: Columbian Exchange (Topic 4.3) 
  • Heimler's History: Maritime Empires Established (Topic 4.4) 
  • Heimler's History: Maritime Empires Developed and Maintained (Topic 4.5) 
  • Heimler's History: Challenges to State Power (Topic 4.6)
  • Heimler's History: Changing Social Hierarchies (Topic 4.7)
  • French and Dutch Exploration of the New World (Khan Academy)
  • Agri-History of Cotton in India
  • Khan Academy: Spanish and Portuguese Empires Video
  • Khan Academy: Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment Video