Summary How to answer GCSE questions for "Britain: Migration, Empires & The People"

AQA GCSE Migration, Empires and the people
c790 to the present day



Sample examination questions

,Explain the significance questions. 8 marks

1. Explain the significance of the creation of the Danelaw in establishing a Scandinavian
Empire.

2. Explain the significance of Alfred the Great in developing English identity.


3. Explain the significance of King Cnut and Emma of Normandy in developing a North
Sea Empire.


4. Explain the significance of Henry II in creating the Angevin Empire.


5. Explain the significance of King John in the loss of the Angevin Empire.


6. Explain the significance of the Hundred Years’ War in developing English Empire.


7. Explain the significance of Sir John Hawkins in developing England’s Atlantic Empire.


8. Explain the significance of Sir Walter Raleigh in developing England’s North American
Empire.


9. Explain the significance of the American War of Independence in the loss of Britain’s
First Empire.


10. Explain the significance of Robert Clive in developing Britain’s Empire in India.


11. Explain the significance of Warren Hastings in developing Britain’s Empire in India.


12. Explain the significance of the Indian Rebellion in the development of Britain’s
empire in India.


13. Explain the significance of the Scramble for Africa in developing Britain’s Empire in
India.


14. Explain the significance of Cecil Rhodes in the development of Britain’s empire in
Africa.



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,15. Explain the significance of the Boer War in changing Britain’s Empire in Africa.


16. Explain the significance of Ghandi in ending Britain’s empire in India.


17. Explain the significance of Nkrumah in the loss of Empire for Britain.


18. Explain the significance of Kenyatta in the loss of Empire for Britain.


19. Explain the significance of Claudia Jones in developing Britain’s identity.


20. Explain the significance of Idi Amin in ending Britain’s imperial interest in Uganda.


21. Explain the significance of the Falklands War in the continuation of Britain’s empire.




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,The ‘How useful’ questions

Source A Source A is an extract from a 10 th-Century Scandinavian manuscript,
and shows Danish men disembarking at Lindisfarne in 793 AD. The
manuscript provides detail on the longships that the Vikings used to
attack Anglo-Saxon settlers.




1. How useful is Source A to a historian studying the reasons for the Viking migration to
the British isles?

Use Source A and your contextual knowledge. 8 marks

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,Source A An eleventh century picture of King Cnut and Queen Emma of
Normandy presenting a gold cross to the new church at
Winchester. Emma of Normandy was a very influential figure
in the religious life of England, and had particular connections
to Winchester.




1. How useful is Source A to a historian studying the impact of Viking invasions on
England?

Use Source A and your contextual knowledge. 8 marks




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,Source A The front page of Emma of Normandy’s book Encomium Emmae
Reginae. It shows her being presented with a copy of the book by the
monk who wrote it, while being watched by her two sons, Edward and
Harthacnut.




1. How useful is Source A to a historian studying the importance of Emma of
Normandy’s role in establishing peace in England?

Use Source A and your contextual knowledge. 8 marks




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, Source A Source A depicts Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine holding
court. The depiction comes from an English chronicler of the 12 th
century who depicted the major events of Henry II’s reign of the
Angevin Empire.




1. How useful is Source A to a historian studying the ways Henry II built the Angevin
Empire?

Use Source A and your contextual knowledge. 8 marks




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