History

History - 4HI1

Course Overview

Trying to understand the world without History is like trying to understand your life without memory of anything before this morning. In IGCSE History you will explore in real depth some of the key ideas and events that have shaped the modern world. 

• The First World War swept away the reactionary empires in Europe and ushered in an age of extremes and uncertainty. We will explore why the War started in 1914, how it was fought and why the Germans and Austro-Hungarians lost the War in 1918.
• Nowhere was more affected by the First World War than Germany, where democracy was strangled in the crib by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. We will explore how a racist demagogue became leader of a highly advanced nation, the impact of Nazi rule on Germany, and how Hitler was able to unleash the horrors of the Second World War. 
• The struggle against Nazi racism helped to inspire the black civil rights movement in the USA. We will explore why race was such a divisive issue in the USA and the extent to which civil rights campaigners such as Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X helped to overcome these deep divisions. 
• China was not immune to the turmoil or new ideas unleashed in Europe: the twentieth century saw democracy, fascism and communism all compete to replace the stagnant rule of the Qing dynasty. We will explore the reasons for the collapse of a 2000 year old system of government, the causes and consequences of debilitating civil war between Nationalists and Communists, and the disastrous rule of Chairman Mao. 
• By the end of Year 11 you should have developed far more sophisticated views about why things happened the way they did and know far more about why the world is the way it is today. 
• You will also have developed skills that are essential for work in the twenty-first century: the ability to analyse and evaluate a range of information, and the ability to construct powerful arguments. 

It is no wonder that students with good History qualifications are highly regarded in jobs as diverse as journalism, management and the law.

Course Overview

FAQs

1. What will we study?

We will study four topics:

• a) The Origins and Course of the First World War 1905-18
• b) Germany: development of dictatorship, 1918–45
• c) A divided union: civil rights in the USA, 1945–74
• d) China: conflict, crisis and change, 1900–89

2. What jobs can you do with History?

History is a useful qualification for many careers, including in particular education, law, journalism, politics, civil service, international relations, charity work, banking and so many more! You will develop transferable skills by studying History and it is a popular subject from a university admissions perspective.

3. Do I need to be good at memorising dates?

Not particularly - History is so much more than memorising dates and facts. It is much more about developing explanations, opinions and arguments. You do need specific evidence to support your ideas in exam answers, but this is not the central point of studying History!

4. Will it be too difficult?

No! Over the past four years at Dulwich College (Singapore), 95% of History IGCSE students achieved a Grade 7 or above (A-A**). History is an academic subject with a lot of content to cover, but you will be supported in managing the revision of the knowledge you need over the three years.

5. Is it all just writing essays?

No, of course not! Lessons are hugely varied in History, including group work, presentations and debates. That being said, the final exams will involve writing some essays (2 x 25-min essays in each of the two exams).

6. Can I do Geography as well?

Yes! History and Geography complement each other well, helping you to develop interlinked skills.

7. What skills do you develop by studying IGCSE History?

You will learn many different skills in IGCSE History that can be applied to your other subjects and your education more broadly. These include debating, research, qualitative data analysis, critical thinking, independence, social understanding, objectivity and presentation skills.

8. Is there anything else good about IGCSE History?

Trips! In the past five years we have run History trips to Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Taiwan.

9. What if I have other questions?

Please email hilary.samuels@dulwich.org if you have any further questions.