History 0470 – Polymath Institute

About Course

The Cambridge IGCSE History (0470) syllabus is designed for learners preparing for examinations in 2024, 2025 and 2026. History study in this qualification encourages learners to engage with historical knowledge and develop skills of evidence analysis, interpretation, explanations of cause and consequence, change and continuity, and comparison across time.

The course supports learners in developing an informed understanding of the past in local, regional and international contexts. It emphasises historical inquiry, critical thinking and communication of structured arguments.

Learners explore a wide range of topics from different periods and parts of the world, gaining insight into how historical events and developments have shaped the modern world. This prepares learners not only for exams but also fosters a broader appreciation of human societies.

Assessment is through structured written papers and optional coursework (or an alternative structured paper), enabling learners to demonstrate depth of knowledge and reasoning skills. Overall performance across all components determines the final grade.

Course Content

Syllabus Overview – History 0470 (IGCSE™)

Course Introduction
History 0470 syllabus and exam overview
Textbooks and resources
Set your study goals and strategy

Topic options for learners – Overview of Option A and Option B

Module 1: Were the revolutions of 1848 important?

Module 2: How was Italy unified?

Module 3: How was Germany unified?

Module 4: Why was there a civil war in the United States & what were its results?

Module 5: Why, & with what effects, did nations gain and expand their overseas empires in the nineteenth century?

Module 6: What caused the First World War?

Exam Option B: The twentieth century: international relations from 1919

Module 7: Was the Treaty of Versailles fair?

Module 8: To what extent was the League of Nations a success?

Module 9: How far was Hitler’s foreign policy to blame for the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939?

Module 10: Who was to blame for the Cold War?

Module 11: How effectively did the United States contain the spread of communism?

Module 12: How secure was the USSR’s control over Eastern Europe, 1948–c.1989?

Course recap and IGCSE History 0470 Exam Preparation Guideline

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About Course

Course Content

Syllabus Overview – History 0470 (IGCSE™)

Course Introduction

History 0470 syllabus and exam overview

Textbooks and resources

Set your study goals and strategy

Topic options for learners – Overview of Option A and Option B

Option A: The nineteenth century: the development of modern nation states, 1848–1914 (Module 1 -6)

Option B: The twentieth century: international relations since 1919 (Module 6-12)

Module 1: Were the revolutions of 1848 important?

1.1 Why had liberalism & nationalism grown in influence by 1848?

1.2 Why were there so many revolutions in 1848?

1.3 Did the revolutions have anything in common?

1.4 Why did most of the revolutions fail?

1.5 Did the revolutions change anything?

1.6 Specified contents on the module

Module 2: How was Italy unified?

2.1 Why was Italy not unified in 1848–49?

2.2 How important was Garibaldi’s contribution to unifying Italy?

2.3 Did Cavour help or hinder the unification of Italy?

2.4 How important for other European countries were moves towards Italian unification?

2.5 Specified contents on the module

Module 3: How was Germany unified?

3.1 Why was Germany not unified in 1848–50?

3.2 How did Bismarck bring about Austria’s defeat of 1866?

3.3 How did Bismarck bring about France’s defeat of 1870?

3.4 How far was Bismarck responsible for the unification of Germany?

3.5 Specified contents on the module

Module 4: Why was there a civil war in the United States & what were its results?

4.1 How far did slavery cause the Civil War?

4.2 What was the significance of Lincoln’s election as president?

4.3 Why was the North able to win the war?

4.4 Did the war change anything?

4.5 Specified contents in Module 4

Module 5: Why, & with what effects, did nations gain and expand their overseas empires in the nineteenth century?

5.1 What were the motives behind European and US imperialism?

5.2 How varied were the impacts of European imperialism on Africans?

5.3 Why, & with what effects, did Indians resist British rule?

5.4 Why, & with what effects, did the United States gain former Spanish colonies?

5.5 Specified contents

Module 6: What caused the First World War?

6.1 Did the Alliance System and global diplomacy make war more likely or less likely?

6.2 How far did colonial problems create tensions between the Great Powers?

6.3 Why were problems in the Balkans so difficult for the Great Powers to solve?

6.4 How did the assassination of Franz Ferdinand lead to war?

6.5 Specified contents

Exam Option B: The twentieth century: international relations from 1919

Module 7: Was the Treaty of Versailles fair?

7.1 What were the motives and aims of the Big Three at Versailles?

7.2 Why did the victors not get everything they wanted?

7.3 What was the impact of the Treaty on Germany up to the end of 1923?

7.4 Could the Treaty be justified at the time?

7.5 Specified contents

Module 8: To what extent was the League of Nations a success?

8.1 How far did weaknesses in the League’s organisation & membership make failure inevitable?

8.2 How successful were the League’s attempts at peacekeeping in the 1920s?

8.3 How important was the League’s humanitarian work?

8.4 How far did the Depression make the work of the League more difficult in the 1930s?

8.5 Specified contents

Module 9: How far was Hitler’s foreign policy to blame for the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939?

9.1 What were the long-term consequences of the Treaty of Versailles

9.2 What were the consequences of the failures of the League of Nations in the 1930s?

9.3 Was the policy of appeasement justified?

9.4 How important was the Nazi–Soviet Pact?

9.5 Why did Britain and France declare war on Germany in September 1939?

9.6 Specified content

Module 10: Who was to blame for the Cold War?

10.1 Why did the US–Soviet alliance begin to break down in 1945?

10.2 How had the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe by 1948?

10.3 How did the United States react to Soviet expansionism?

10.4 What were the consequences of the Berlin Blockade?

10.5 Who was more to blame for starting the Cold War: the United States or the USSR?

10.6 Specified content

Module 11: How effectively did the United States contain the spread of communism?

11.1 The United States and events in Korea, 1950–53

11.2 The United States and events in Cuba, 1959–62

11.3 American involvement in Vietnam, 1955–75

11.4 Specified Content

Module 12: How secure was the USSR’s control over Eastern Europe, 1948–c.1989?