AS Level

Advanced Subsidiary Level (Lower Sixth)
Examination Board: Edexcel www.edexcel.org.uk

Specification: History 8264

Unit 1: SECURING THE TUDOR DYNASTY: THE REIGN OF HENRY VII (6521)

The Examination

One question will be set on this topic and students will have to answer five sub-questions. Unit 1 is predominantly source-based and the questions will focus on comprehension, abstraction, cross-referencing evaluation and analysis. The final question will ask students to use one or two sources in conjunction with their own knowledge.

Syllabus content

  • The defeat of Richard Ill: the significance of Bosworth
  • Threats to the dynasty after 1485
  • Henry's administrative reform and economic policies to consolidate the dynasty
  • Henry's use of foreign policy to secure the Tudor dynasty.


Cycle 1: Henry VII and the founding of the Tudor Monarchy

Cycle 2: Threats to Henry VII's security after 1485

Cycle 3: Henry VII and foreign affairs

Cycle 4: Henry VII and the nobles

Cycle 5: Henry VII and the government of England

Cycle 6: Economy and Trade under Henry VII

Cycle 7: Did Henry VII create a "New Monarchy"?

Supplement: Preparing for the examination

Web sites

Henry VII http://www.tudorhistory.org/henry7/
Tudor England http://englishhistory.net/tudor.html

Unit 2: The Road to Unification, Italy c.1848-70

The main focus of this option is on the process by which Italy became a single unified state, and the role of the great powers of Europe in enabling or obstructing that process. Students will have outline understanding of the Vienna settlement of 1815, the growth of liberal and nationalist movements thereafter, and the role of Austria and Metternich in upholding the Vienna settlement in order to define and assess the forces for and against Unification. The role of Cavour, Napoleon III and Garibaldi will be considered in detail.

Unit 3: Bismarck and the Unification of Germany, c.1848-71

The main focus of this option is on the means whereby Germany became a united nation and also on the nature and extent of Bismarck's responsibility for bringing German unification about. Students will develop an understanding of the extent of consolidation under the German Confederation from 1815 and of Austria's early dominance of this Confederation. Revolutionary activities within Germany in 1848-1850 will be assessed. In studying the process of unification students will consider economic factors, especially the economic domination of Prussia within the Confederation. Students will study Bismarck's career as a diplomat prior to 1862, his appointment as Prime Minister of Prussia, and the establishment of the North German Confederation in 1867. Finally, the period 1867-71 will be considered, with the consequences for German unification of the Franco-Prussian war.

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