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GCSE History: Warfare Through Time
| Edexcel Questions and Answers|
Updated 2025/2026| Correct 100%
Explain why siege warfare was common in the medieval period.
Most towns had walls, and it was hard to break in quickly. So armies just waited them out or
tried to starve them into surrendering.
What was the impact of the nuclear bomb on warfare after 1945?
It ended WWII fast but also started the Cold War. Countries were scared to fight directly
because nuclear weapons were too dangerous.
Assess the impact of the Home Guard in WWII.
They were like a backup army for if the Germans invaded. Not super well-equipped, but
helped with morale and defence at home.
How far did the role of the knight change from 1066 to 1500?
Knights were top warriors in 1066, but by 1500 gunpowder made their armour kind of
useless. They became more like nobles than fighters.
Explain why control of the seas was important during wartime.
Whoever controlled the sea could block supplies, move troops fast, and trade safely. In both
world wars, navies were crucial.
, 2
Why did trench conditions affect soldiers’ health so badly?
Trench foot, lice, and bad food made life miserable. Plus, stress and constant noise led to
shell shock. Hygiene was awful.
Explain why the invention of the machine gun changed how wars were fought after 1900.
It made charging across open land basically suicidal, so armies had to dig trenches and fight
more defensively. It slowed everything down and made wars more about holding ground.
Assess how important railways were for armies during the 19th century.
Railways were a game-changer—they let armies move troops and supplies really fast over
long distances. Without them, it would've taken ages and cost loads more.
What was the significance of conscription in the First World War?
It meant Britain could raise a massive army quickly, not just rely on volunteers. It also
showed how war was affecting every part of society, not just soldiers.
How far did medieval warfare rely on the power of the king?
Quite a lot—kings raised armies using feudal duties and their own land. But sometimes
nobles acted on their own too, so it wasn’t only the king in charge.
, 3
Explain why chemical weapons caused fear but weren’t the main killer in WWI.
They were terrifying and cruel (like gas attacks), but more people actually died from shellfire
and machine guns. Still, gas messed with morale a lot.
Assess the impact of the longbow at the Battle of Agincourt.
The longbow helped the English beat a way bigger French army. It was fast to fire and could
go through armour—basically gave the English a huge advantage.
How far did the role of women change in warfare during the 20th century?
Loads during the World Wars—they worked in factories, became nurses, even joined military
roles like the ATS. But they weren’t usually on the front line.
Explain why castles became less useful after the invention of gunpowder.
Cannons could smash through stone walls, so old-school castles weren’t much good
anymore. Armies started using star forts and other designs instead.
Assess the reasons for the failure of cavalry in World War One.
Horses were no match for machine guns and barbed wire. They just weren’t suited to trench
warfare anymore—it was too slow and open for them to survive.
What was the impact of the introduction of tanks in WWI?
At first, they broke down a lot, but over time tanks helped break through enemy lines and
made trench warfare less of a stalemate.
GCSE History: Warfare Through Time
| Edexcel Questions and Answers|
Updated 2025/2026| Correct 100%
Explain why siege warfare was common in the medieval period.
Most towns had walls, and it was hard to break in quickly. So armies just waited them out or
tried to starve them into surrendering.
What was the impact of the nuclear bomb on warfare after 1945?
It ended WWII fast but also started the Cold War. Countries were scared to fight directly
because nuclear weapons were too dangerous.
Assess the impact of the Home Guard in WWII.
They were like a backup army for if the Germans invaded. Not super well-equipped, but
helped with morale and defence at home.
How far did the role of the knight change from 1066 to 1500?
Knights were top warriors in 1066, but by 1500 gunpowder made their armour kind of
useless. They became more like nobles than fighters.
Explain why control of the seas was important during wartime.
Whoever controlled the sea could block supplies, move troops fast, and trade safely. In both
world wars, navies were crucial.
, 2
Why did trench conditions affect soldiers’ health so badly?
Trench foot, lice, and bad food made life miserable. Plus, stress and constant noise led to
shell shock. Hygiene was awful.
Explain why the invention of the machine gun changed how wars were fought after 1900.
It made charging across open land basically suicidal, so armies had to dig trenches and fight
more defensively. It slowed everything down and made wars more about holding ground.
Assess how important railways were for armies during the 19th century.
Railways were a game-changer—they let armies move troops and supplies really fast over
long distances. Without them, it would've taken ages and cost loads more.
What was the significance of conscription in the First World War?
It meant Britain could raise a massive army quickly, not just rely on volunteers. It also
showed how war was affecting every part of society, not just soldiers.
How far did medieval warfare rely on the power of the king?
Quite a lot—kings raised armies using feudal duties and their own land. But sometimes
nobles acted on their own too, so it wasn’t only the king in charge.
, 3
Explain why chemical weapons caused fear but weren’t the main killer in WWI.
They were terrifying and cruel (like gas attacks), but more people actually died from shellfire
and machine guns. Still, gas messed with morale a lot.
Assess the impact of the longbow at the Battle of Agincourt.
The longbow helped the English beat a way bigger French army. It was fast to fire and could
go through armour—basically gave the English a huge advantage.
How far did the role of women change in warfare during the 20th century?
Loads during the World Wars—they worked in factories, became nurses, even joined military
roles like the ATS. But they weren’t usually on the front line.
Explain why castles became less useful after the invention of gunpowder.
Cannons could smash through stone walls, so old-school castles weren’t much good
anymore. Armies started using star forts and other designs instead.
Assess the reasons for the failure of cavalry in World War One.
Horses were no match for machine guns and barbed wire. They just weren’t suited to trench
warfare anymore—it was too slow and open for them to survive.
What was the impact of the introduction of tanks in WWI?
At first, they broke down a lot, but over time tanks helped break through enemy lines and
made trench warfare less of a stalemate.
