GCSE History Syllabus

When and where did the Industrial Revolution begin?

It began in Britain in the mid-to-late 18th century (around 1760) and spread through the 19th century.

What was the significance of James Watt's improved steam engine?

It provided an efficient, reliable power source that drove factories, mines, railways and steamships, making it central to industrialisation.

What is 'urbanisation' and why did it increase during the Industrial Revolution?

Urbanisation is the growth of towns and cities; it increased as people moved from the countryside to find work in the new factories.

What was the 'factory system'?

A method of manufacturing where workers and powered machinery were brought together in one building to mass-produce goods, replacing home-based cottage industry.

Name two major industries transformed by the Industrial Revolution.

The textile industry (e.g. spinning jenny, power loom) and the iron/coal industries, along with transport via canals and railways.

Which monarch gave her name to the Victorian Era, and what were its dates?

Queen Victoria; the era ran from her accession in 1837 to her death in 1901.

What was the Great Exhibition of 1851?

A showcase of British industrial, technological and manufacturing achievements held in the Crystal Palace in London, celebrating Britain's global leadership.

What were 'workhouses' in Victorian Britain?

Institutions established under the Poor Law where the destitute could get food and shelter in exchange for hard labour, deliberately made harsh to discourage reliance on relief.

What did the British Empire look like at the height of the Victorian Era?

It was the largest empire in history, covering about a quarter of the world's land and population — 'the empire on which the sun never sets'.

Name one major Victorian public-health reform and why it was needed.

The Public Health Acts (e.g. 1848, 1875) improved sewers, clean water and sanitation to combat diseases like cholera caused by overcrowded, unsanitary cities.

When did British women first gain the right to vote, and who campaigned for it?

Women over 30 gained the vote in 1918 and equal voting rights (age 21) in 1928; the suffragettes (led by Emmeline Pankhurst) and suffragists campaigned for it.

What was the Welfare State established in post-war Britain?

A system introduced after 1945 (based on the Beveridge Report) providing 'cradle-to-grave' support, including the National Health Service (NHS) founded in 1948.

What was the General Strike of 1926 in Britain?

A nationwide strike (around 1.7 million workers) called by trade unions in support of coal miners facing wage cuts and longer hours; it lasted nine days and failed.

How did WWII affect life for people on the British home front?

It brought rationing, evacuation of children, the Blitz bombing of cities, women taking wartime jobs, and blackouts to protect against air raids.

What major immigration event shaped 20th-century Britain in 1948?

The arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush, bringing Caribbean migrants to help rebuild post-war Britain, marking the start of large-scale Commonwealth immigration.

What form of government was pioneered in Ancient Athens?

Democracy ('rule by the people'), a direct democracy where free adult male citizens could vote on decisions in the assembly.

Who were the two leading rival city-states (poleis) of Ancient Greece?

Athens (known for democracy, culture and philosophy) and Sparta (known for its militaristic society and disciplined army).

What were the Persian Wars, and name one famous battle?

Conflicts (490–479 BC) in which Greek city-states resisted invasions by the Persian Empire; famous battles include Marathon (490 BC) and Thermopylae (480 BC).

Name three influential philosophers of Ancient Greece.

Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.

What was the origin and purpose of the ancient Olympic Games?

First held in 776 BC at Olympia, they were athletic contests held every four years to honour the god Zeus, uniting the Greek city-states.

What were the three main phases of Ancient Roman government in order?

The Roman Kingdom (monarchy), then the Roman Republic (509–27 BC, ruled by the Senate and elected officials), then the Roman Empire (from 27 BC, ruled by emperors).

Who was the first Roman emperor and when did he take power?

Augustus (originally Octavian), who became emperor in 27 BC and began the Roman Empire.

What was the Roman army's basic unit, and how large was it?

The legion, made up of roughly 5,000 heavily armed foot soldiers (legionaries), divided into smaller units called cohorts and centuries.

Name two major engineering achievements of the Ancient Romans.

Aqueducts (carrying fresh water to cities) and a vast network of straight, paved roads; also concrete, arches and the Colosseum.

What was the 'Pax Romana'?

'Roman Peace' — a roughly 200-year period (27 BC–180 AD) of relative stability, prosperity and expansion across the Roman Empire.

What natural feature was essential to Ancient Egyptian civilisation and why?

The River Nile — its annual flooding deposited fertile silt for farming and provided water, transport and trade, allowing civilisation to flourish in the desert.

What was a pharaoh in Ancient Egypt?

The king or ruler of Ancient Egypt, regarded as a living god and the political and religious leader of the country.

Why were the pyramids built in Ancient Egypt?

They were monumental tombs built to house and protect the bodies and treasures of pharaohs for the afterlife, e.g. the Great Pyramid of Giza.

What was mummification and why did the Egyptians practise it?

The process of preserving a dead body by removing organs, drying it with natron and wrapping it in linen, so the person could reach and live on in the afterlife.

What was hieroglyphics, and what object helped modern scholars decode it?

The ancient Egyptian writing system using pictures and symbols; the Rosetta Stone, discovered in 1799, allowed scholars to decipher it.