Study guides

Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88

Pearson Edexcel·GCSE

Pearson-GCSE-History

Anglo-Saxon and Norman England c1060–88 is a dramatic story of invasion, succession, and profound transformation. You will explore how a well-organised Anglo-Saxon kingdom was conquered and reshaped by William of Normandy, fundamentally changing England's society, landscape, and language.

Anglo-Saxon England and the Anglo-Norman Kingdom, c1053–1106

Pearson Edexcel·A-Level

Pearson-A-Level-History

Master the dramatic end of Anglo-Saxon England and the seismic shock of the Norman Conquest. This guide covers the complex power struggles of the Godwins, the succession crisis of 1066, and the bloody campaigns that reshaped English history forever.

Aztecs and the Spanish conquest, 1519-1535

OCR·GCSE

The collision between the Aztec Empire and Hernán Cortés's Spanish expedition between 1519 and 1535 represents one of history's most consequential encounters: a sophisticated Mesoamerican civilisation of millions was brought to its knees within two years, reshaping the Americas forever. For OCR GCSE candidates, this World Depth Study demands precise causal analysis — explaining not just what happened, but why a handful of Spanish soldiers, allied with tens of thousands of indigenous warriors and aided by catastrophic disease, could topple an empire that dominated central Mexico. Mastering this topic means understanding the interplay of military technology, biological catastrophe, indigenous alliances, and Aztec internal divisions — and being able to deploy that understanding fluently under exam conditions.

Britain in peace and war, 1900-1918

OCR·GCSE

From the sweeping welfare legislation of the Liberal Reforms to the militant campaigns of the suffragettes and the total mobilisation of the Home Front during the First World War, Britain between 1900 and 1918 was transformed beyond recognition. This study sits at the heart of OCR GCSE History, demanding that candidates demonstrate precise factual knowledge, analytical explanation of causation and consequence, and sophisticated evaluation of primary sources. Master this period and you will have the skills — and the marks — to succeed across the entire paper.

Britain, c1785–c1870: democracy, protest and reform

Pearson Edexcel·A-Level

Pearson-A-Level-History

This study explores the crucial development of British trade unionism and cooperative movements between 1785 and 1870. It is historically significant as it traces the working class's struggle from illegal secret societies to the legal recognition and national organisation of the Trades Union Congress, laying the foundation for modern workers' rights.

Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763–1914

Pearson Edexcel·A-Level

Pearson-A-Level-History

This study guide covers the crucial period of British involvement in India from 1829 to 1858, tracking the shift from East India Company trade to direct Crown rule. It explores the complex mix of social reforms, aggressive annexations, and religious tensions that ultimately triggered the explosive 1857 Indian Rebellion.

British America, 1713–83: empire and revolution

Pearson Edexcel·GCSE

Pearson-GCSE-History

This study guide covers the dramatic transformation of thirteen British colonies into the independent United States of America. It explores the causes of the revolution, key turning points in the war, and the profound consequences for colonists, Indigenous peoples, and enslaved individuals, ensuring you are fully prepared for your GCSE History exam.

Civil rights and race relations in the USA, 1850–2009

Pearson Edexcel·A-Level

Pearson-A-Level-History

This study explores how Southern states and the Supreme Court systematically dismantled Black Americans' rights after Reconstruction. It's crucial for understanding how the legal framework of segregation—Jim Crow—was built, forming the foundation of racial inequality that lasted until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s.

Conflict in the Middle East, 1945–95

Pearson Edexcel·GCSE

Pearson-GCSE-History

This study guide covers the intense diplomatic efforts and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East from 1945 to 1995. It is crucial for understanding how modern diplomacy works, the role of superpowers, and the deep-rooted complexities of the Arab-Israeli conflict that continue to shape global politics today.

Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000–present and Whitechapel, c1870–c1900: crime, policing and the inner city

Pearson Edexcel·GCSE

Pearson-GCSE-History

This study guide covers a thousand years of British history, exploring how society's definition of crime, methods of law enforcement, and approaches to punishment have evolved. It includes a deep dive into the notorious Whitechapel murders of 1888, revealing the immense challenges of policing Victorian London's most deprived areas.

Crime and punishment, c.1250 to present

OCR·GCSE

Crime and Punishment in Britain, c.1250 to present, is a sweeping thematic study that traces over 750 years of law enforcement, criminal justice, and penal policy — from the community-policed medieval village to the professional, state-run systems of the modern era. Candidates must demonstrate mastery of Second Order Concepts — Change, Continuity, Causation, and Consequence — to access the highest mark levels, making this a topic that rewards analytical thinking over simple storytelling. Examiners consistently credit responses that connect shifts in crime and punishment to wider historical forces: urbanisation, religious change, political reform, and evolving attitudes towards justice and human rights.

Early Elizabethan England, 1558–88

Pearson Edexcel·GCSE

Pearson-GCSE-History

Master the initial challenges of Elizabeth I's reign, from her precarious accession in 1558 to the looming Catholic threat of Mary, Queen of Scots. This study guide unpacks the 1559 Religious Settlement and the ensuing political tightrope Elizabeth walked, providing you with the specific knowledge and analytical frameworks examiners reward.

England and the Angevin Empire in the reign of Henry II, 1154–89

Pearson Edexcel·A-Level

Pearson-A-Level-History

This study explores the dramatic clash between royal authority and the Church during the reign of Henry II, culminating in the murder of Thomas Becket. It is historically significant as a defining constitutional struggle over legal jurisdiction and power, making it a crucial topic for understanding medieval governance and answering causation and consequence questions.

England, 1509–1603: authority, nation and religion

Pearson Edexcel·A-Level

Pearson-A-Level-History

This study focuses on the final years of Elizabeth I's reign (1589–1603), exploring whether England faced a genuine 'crisis of government'. It is crucial for the exam because it requires you to weigh up evidence of severe challenges (war, rebellion, famine, faction) against the resilience of Tudor government.

France in revolution, 1774–99

Pearson Edexcel·A-Level

Pearson-A-Level-History

Dive into the dramatic final phase of the French Revolution, where the Directory struggled to control a fractured nation. Discover how political instability, economic ruin, and war paved the way for Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to power in 1799.

Henry VIII and his ministers, 1509–40

Pearson Edexcel·GCSE

Pearson-GCSE-History

Master the dramatic era of Henry VIII and his most powerful minister, Cardinal Wolsey. This guide unpacks the politics, power struggles, and foreign policy that shaped Tudor England, providing you with the specific knowledge and examiner insights needed for top marks.

India, c1914–48: the road to independence

Pearson Edexcel·A-Level

Pearson-A-Level-History

Master the complex journey from British colonial rule to the brink of independence in India. This guide unpacks the critical negotiations, the rise of mass nationalism, and the deep political divisions that ultimately shaped the subcontinent, earning you crucial marks on causation and consequence.

Industrialisation and social change in Britain, 1759–1928: forging a new society

Pearson Edexcel·A-Level

Pearson-A-Level-History

Josiah Wedgwood was far more than just a master potter; he was a pioneer of the Industrial Revolution whose innovations in manufacturing, transport, and marketing transformed Britain. From perfecting Creamware and Jasperware to lobbying for the Trent and Mersey Canal and designing the iconic anti-slavery medallion, his work perfectly illustrates the interconnected nature of industrialisation and social change.

Living under Nazi rule, 1933-1945

OCR·GCSE

This OCR GCSE History guide explores how the Nazi regime used a combination of brutal terror and sophisticated propaganda to control Germany between 1933 and 1945. It provides essential knowledge on the mechanisms of the police state, the changing lives of ordinary people, and the escalating persecution that led to the Holocaust, all tailored to secure maximum marks in your exam.

Local Site Study

OCR·GCSE

This guide provides a comprehensive, exam-focused breakdown of the OCR GCSE History 'History Around Us' local site study. It equips candidates with the specific analytical skills, architectural vocabulary, and historical context needed to transform site observations into high-mark answers.

Luther and the German Reformation, c1515–55

Pearson Edexcel·A-Level

Pearson-A-Level-History

This study covers the explosive period from 1515 to 1555 when a single German monk challenged the Catholic Church and permanently divided Western Christianity. It matters historically because the Reformation fundamentally transformed European politics, society, and religious life, setting the stage for the modern world.

Medicine in Britain, c1250–present and The British sector of the Western Front, 1914–18: injuries, treatment and the trenches

Pearson Edexcel·GCSE

Pearson-GCSE-History

This study guide covers the fascinating evolution of medicine in Britain from the medieval reliance on the Four Humours to the groundbreaking discoveries of the Industrial Revolution, and the extraordinary medical innovations forged in the mud of the Western Front. It is essential for understanding how scientific evidence slowly replaced supernatural belief, shaping the modern world and saving millions of lives.

Migrants in Britain, c800–present and Notting Hill, c1948–c1970

Pearson Edexcel·GCSE

Pearson-GCSE-History

This study guide explores the profound impact of migration on Britain from c800 to the present, focusing deeply on early modern migrations and the post-war Caribbean experience in Notting Hill. Mastering this topic requires understanding the complex push and pull factors that drove migration and evaluating the significant cultural, economic, and social changes migrants brought to British society.

Migrants to Britain, c.1250 to present

OCR·GCSE

This OCR GCSE History study guide provides a comprehensive analysis of migration to Britain from c.1250 to the present. It is designed to help candidates master the key themes of change, continuity, causation, and consequence, equipping them with the specific knowledge and exam techniques required to achieve the highest marks.

Rebellion and disorder under the Tudors, 1485–1603

Pearson Edexcel·A-Level

Pearson-A-Level-History

Master the complexities of Tudor rule, from pretenders to the throne to popular uprisings against religious change and taxation. This study guide explores how the Tudor monarchs (1485–1603) not only faced significant rebellions but also developed sophisticated methods of local control to secure their authority.

Russia and the Soviet Union, 1917–41

Pearson Edexcel·GCSE

Pearson-GCSE-History

This study guide covers the dramatic collapse of Tsarist Russia and the rise of the Soviet Union from 1917 to 1941. It explores the causes of the two 1917 revolutions, the fatal weaknesses of the Provisional Government, and how the Bolsheviks successfully seized and consolidated power.

Russia in revolution, 1894–1924

Pearson Edexcel·A-Level

Pearson-A-Level-History

This study guide covers the dramatic transformation of Russia from a Tsarist autocracy to the world's first communist state between 1894 and 1924. It is essential for understanding how the Bolsheviks seized and consolidated power, surviving civil war, economic collapse, and foreign intervention to establish a one-party state.

South Africa, 1948–94: from apartheid state to ‘rainbow nation’

Pearson Edexcel·A-Level

Pearson-A-Level-History

This study examines the crucial period from 1968 to 1983 when internal and external resistance to the apartheid regime intensified significantly. You will explore how the Black Consciousness Movement, the Soweto Uprising, and the ANC in exile combined with international pressure to challenge the National Party's grip on power.

Spain, 1930–78: republicanism, Francoism and the re-establishment of democracy

Pearson Edexcel·A-Level

Pearson-A-Level-History

Dive into the ideological battleground of Spain from 1930 to 1978. This crucial topic covers the collapse of the Second Republic, the brutal Spanish Civil War, and the establishment of Franco's dictatorship, testing your understanding of political extremism, foreign intervention, and the nature of authoritarian rule.

Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941–91

Pearson Edexcel·GCSE

Pearson-GCSE-History

This study covers the dramatic final chapter of the Cold War from 1970 to 1991, tracing the journey from the fragile peace of Détente through the tense 'Second Cold War' to the ultimate collapse of the Soviet Union. Understanding this period is crucial for explaining how half a century of superpower rivalry abruptly ended, reshaping the modern world.