History IGCSE (CIE Syllabus 0470)

The History IGCSE will cover ‘International Relations in the 20th Century’.

The course begins at the end of the First World War and explores how Europe coped with peace. It explores how the victors treated the losers and how the terms of the Treaty of Versailles affected the world. The course develops by looking at the work of the League of Nations in solving international issues throughout the 1920s and 30s. We then move on to look at the effects of the Depression and how it led to isolationist policies and the rise of Nazism. From here the course moves on to the breakdown of international relations and the run up to the Second World War. During this part of the course, students undertake an in-depth study of Germany between the wars.

Following the Second World War, the course looks at the relationships between the victors and how growing mistrust led to the Cold War. American policies of Containment and the Truman Doctrine lead to case studies of major Cold War incidents from the Hungarian uprising, through the Korean War to Vietnam and beyond. Eventually the course leads to the events that led to the fall of the Eastern Block including Solidarity in Poland and the policies of Gorbachev. We end the course by looking at and analysing the Gulf Wars and the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Aims

By the end of the course students should have an understanding of international relations that have led to the modern world in which we live. They should be able to understand the nature of cause and consequence, continuity and change, similarity and difference. They will be able to recognise bias and understand how it can be used to manipulate people's opinions.

Assessment

Assessment is made by two examinations at the end of Y11 and one piece of coursework written during Y11. These will test the student's ability to:

1. Recall, select, organise and deploy knowledge of the syllabus content.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of:

(a) change and continuity, cause and consequence, similarity and difference;

(b) the motives, emotions, intentions and beliefs of people in the past.

3. Comprehend, interpret, evaluate and use a range of sources as evidence in their historical context.

The course is best suited to students who have an interest in why the world is like it is. History studies teach many valuable skills necessary for success in the 21st century world, including critical thinking, collaboration, communication, information literacy and creativity.