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History 7-10 / Year 8 / Knowledge and understanding / Empires and expansions

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Curriculum content descriptions

a significant event, development, turning point or challenge that contributed to continuity and change related to the empire and/or expansion (AC9HH8K08)

Elaborations
  • Topic: Mongol Empire
  • explaining the role of the Mongols in forging connections between Europe and Asia through conquest, settlement and trade; for example, the use of paper money and coinage; the growing number of European merchants travelling to China
  • explaining Genghis Khan’s use of decimal organisation in his army and his policies for governing his empire, including codifying laws, banning the killing of animals in the breeding season, supporting religious freedom and expanding trade
  • analysing the effects of Mongol expansion including life in China before, during and after the Mongol conquest,456,Topic: Ottoman Empire
  • explaining the role of warfare in expanding Ottoman territory, including the sieges of Bursa (1317–1326 CE) and Nicaea (1328–1331 CE)
  • describing Ottoman art and architecture, such as Selimiye Mosque in the city of Edirne in Turkey, and Islamic geometric design
  • outlining inventions and developments in the Islamic world, such as the astrolabe, public hospitals and libraries, and their subsequent adoption in the Western world
  • explaining the impact of the Crusades in challenging the Ottoman Empire and the responses of the Ottomans to the challenge,456,Topic: Vikings
  • identifying the key role of gods such as Odin, Thor, Frey and Freyja in Viking religion and the impact of the adoption of Christianity during the Viking period
  • explaining the significance of the construction of longboats and their role in exploration, including innovations in keel and sail design
  • identifying and analysing evidence of Viking trade between Russia (Kiev) and the east (through Constantinople)
  • describing Viking craft with particular emphasis on the production of weapons and armour (for example, swords, battle axes and helmets) and the effectiveness of these in battle
  • explaining the triggers of declining Viking power such as the Battle of Standford Bridge, the treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, new colonies, changing climate and/or the spread of Christianity,456,Topic: The Spanish conquest of the Americas
  • explaining the arrival of Spanish conquistadores in Mexico and Peru from 1510 CE (Balboa) to 1531 (Pizarro), and their reasons; for example, seeking wealth, claiming land for their king, converting the local populations to Christianity, sense of adventure
  • analysing the significance of Alexander VI’s papal decrees of 1493 in legalising Spanish territorial expansion and claims in the Americas

  • outlining the effects of Spanish conquest on the Americas, such as the spread of disease, introduction of crops such as maize, beans, tobacco, chocolate and potatoes to Europe, the Encomienda system, mining and deforestation, and the impact of the loss of natural resources

  • explaining the longer-term effects of conquest and colonisation on the Indigenous populations of the Americas, such as the unequal distribution of land and wealth, slavery, political inequality, and supremacy of Spanish culture and language over conquered territories
General capabilities
  • Ethical understanding Ethical understanding
  • Intercultural understanding Intercultural Understanding
ScOT terms

Renaissance,  Historical sources,  Historic places,  European history,  Bubonic plague,  Historians,  Inventions,  Middle Ages

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