Skip to content
Marlow Works

AP World History / Unit 8

Unit 8 · 8–10%

Cold War and Decolonization

Superpower rivalry and the end of European colonial empires.

Start first lessonUnit practice

Topics

  • U.S.–Soviet rivalry
  • Proxy conflicts
  • Decolonization
  • Nonalignment
  • Newly independent states

Lessons

Key terms

Original practice

Marlow Works questions. If this unit does not have its own items yet, you will see other questions from the same course.

1 of 3The Global Tapestry · medium · multiple choice

Which development best explains why Song China was able to support a large urban population?

Original Marlow Works item — not a College Board question.

Take your time—this is practice, not a test.

Review checklist

  1. 01Define the Cold War as competition short of direct U.S.–Soviet war.
  2. 02Explain one cause of decolonization that is not only 'the Cold War.'
  3. 03Give one example of a new state navigating both independence and superpower pressure.

Related resources

External links with reuse status. Marlow Works is independent and does not copy restricted exam or textbook material.

  • Official / link only

    AP World History: Modern course page

    Official College Board course scope, units, and exam updates.

    College Board · All rights reserved · accessed 2026-10-01

    Do not copy CED prose, graphics, or sample questions.

    Open source

  • CC BY — attribution required

    World History Volume 1: to 1500

    Open textbook useful for AP World background through 1500.

    Open Textbook Library listing · CC BY · accessed 2026-10-01

    Verify the exact item license on the source page before republishing text.

    Open source

  • CC BY-SA — attribution and ShareAlike

    World History: Cultures, States, and Societies to 1500

    Open textbook for comparative regional history before 1500.

    Open Textbook Library listing · CC BY-SA · accessed 2026-10-01

    Open source