The Diploma history course is a challenging survey of modern and contemporary history. The course begins with a brief review of the late 19^th century, the unifications of Germany and Italy and the events leading up to the First World War. Students then examine both World Wars in detail as well as the Cold War and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union and political crises in China and other communist states.

History requires large amounts of reading and writing. But that does not mean that the amount of work should be a burden. Students should keep track of assigned readings and to help them through their study. Much of what we learn is by repetition so students should be careful to keep up with all readings throughout the course.

1-3 Answers lack understanding of the demands of the question or accurate/relevant historical knowledge. Answers show little or no evidence of appropriate structure and consist of little more than vague, unsupported assertions.

4-5 Answers reveal little understanding of the question. While historical details are present, they are largely inaccurate and/or of marginal relevance to the task. There is little or no understanding of historical context or historical processes. While there may be a recognizable essay structure, there is minimal focus on the task.

6-7 Answers indicate some understanding of the question. There is some relevant historical knowledge, but it is limited in terms of quantity and quality. There may be some attempt to place events in their historical context. Understanding of historical processes and (where appropriate) comparison and contrast may be present but underdeveloped. While there may be a recognizable essay structure, the question is only partially addressed.

8-9 Answers indicate that the demands of the question are generally understood. Relevant historical knowledge is present and applied but is not fully or accurately detailed and is presented in a narrative or descriptive manner. Alternatively, there is coherent argument that requires further substantiation. Relevant critical commentary is implicit. There has been an attempt to place events in their historical context and to show an understanding of historical processes and (where appropriate) comparison and contrast. There is evidence of an attempt to follow a structured approach, either chronological or thematic.

10-12 Answers indicate that the demands of the question are understood and addressed though not all implications are considered. Relevant, largely accurate historical knowledge is present and applied as evidence. Answers may attempt some critical commentary. Events are generally placed in their historical context. There is an understanding of historical processes and (where appropriate) comparison and contrast. There may be some awareness of different approaches to, and interpretations of, historical issues and events. However, responses that mainly summarize the views of historians and use these as a substitute for, rather than a supplement to, the deployment of relevant historical knowledge cannot reach the top of this band. There is a clear attempt to structure answers either chronologically or thematically.

13-15 Answers are clearly focused responses to the demands of the question. Relevant historical knowledge is applied as evidence. Critical commentary using the evidence base is present but not always used consistently. Events are placed in their historical context. There is a sound understanding of historical processes and (where appropriate) comparison and contrast. There may be awareness and some evaluation of different approaches to, and interpretations of, historical issues and events. These are used to supplement, in a relevant manner, the arguments presented. Answers are structured (either chronologically or thematically) using relevant evidence to support historical arguments.

16-20 Answers are clearly focused responses, showing a high degree of awareness of the demands of the question. Where appropriate, answers may challenge the question successfully. Detailed and accurate historical knowledge is applied as evidence and used consistently and effectively to support critical commentary. Events are placed in their historical context and there is a perceptive understanding of historical processes and (where appropriate) comparison and contrast. There may be evaluation of different approaches to, and interpretations of, historical issues and events. This evaluation is integrated effectively into the answer to support and supplement the argument. Answers are well structured and clearly expressed, using evidence to support relevant, balanced and focused historical arguments.

Assessment objective 1: Knowledge and understanding

• Recall and select relevant historical knowledge

• Demonstrate an understanding of historical context

• Demonstrate an understanding of historical processes: cause and effect; continuity and change

• Understand historical sources (SL paper 1 and HL paper 1)

• Deploy detailed, in-depth knowledge (HL paper 3)

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a specific historical topic (IA)

Assessment objective 2: Application and interpretation

• Apply historical knowledge as evidence

• Show awareness of different approaches to, and interpretations of, historical issues and events

• Compare and contrast historical sources as evidence (SL paper 1 and HL paper 1)

• Explain the importance of historical sources (HL paper 1)

• Present a summary of evidence (IA)

Assessment objective 3: Synthesis and evaluation

• Evaluate different approaches to, and interpretations of, historical issues and events

• Evaluate historical sources as evidence (SL paper 1, HL paper 1 and IA)

• Evaluate and synthesize evidence from both historical sources and background knowledge (SL paper 1

and HL paper 1)

• Develop critical commentary using the evidence base (SL/HL paper 2 and HL paper 3)

• Synthesize by integrating evidence and critical commentary (HL paper 3)

• Present an analysis of a summary of evidence (IA)

Assessment objective 4: Use of historical skills

• Demonstrate the ability to structure an essay answer, using evidence to support relevant, balanced

and focused historical arguments (SL/HL paper 2 and HL paper 3)

• Demonstrate evidence of research skills, organization and referencing (IA)

Topic 1: Causes, practices and effects of wars

War was a major feature of the 20th century. In this topic the different types of war should be identified, and the causes, practices and effects of these conflicts should be studied.

Major themes

Different types and nature of 20th

century warfare

• Civil

• Guerrilla

• Limited war, total war

Origins and causes of wars • Long-term, short-term and immediate causes

• Economic, ideological, political, religious causes

Nature of 20th century wars • Technological developments, tactics and strategies, air, land

and sea

• Home front: economic and social impact (including changes in

the role and status of women)

• Resistance and revolutionary movements

Effects and results of wars • Peace settlements and wars ending without treaties

• Attempts at collective security pre- and post-Second World War

• Political repercussions and territorial changes

• Post-war economic problems

Topic 5: The Cold War

This topic addresses East–West relations from 1945. It aims to promote an international perspective and understanding of the origins, course and effects of the Cold War—a conflict that dominated global affairs from the end of the Second World War to the early 1990s. It includes superpower rivalry and events in all areas affected by Cold War politics such as spheres of interest, wars (proxy), alliances and interference in developing countries.

Major themes

Origins of the Cold War • Ideological differences

• Mutual suspicion and fear

• From wartime allies to post-war enemies

Nature of the Cold War • Ideological opposition

• Superpowers and spheres of influence

• Alliances and diplomacy in the Cold War

Development and impact of the

Cold War

• Global spread of the Cold War from its European origins

• Cold War policies of containment, brinkmanship, peaceful

coexistence, détente

• Role of the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement

• Role and significance of leaders

• Arms race, proliferation and limitation

• Social, cultural and economic impact

End of the Cold War • Break-up of Soviet Union: internal problems and external

pressures

• Breakdown of Soviet control over Central and Eastern Europe

Prescribed subject 3: Communism in crisis 1976‑89

This prescribed subject addresses the major challenges—social, political and economic—facing the regimes in the leading socialist (Communist) states from 1976 to 1989 and the nature of the response of these regimes. In some cases challenges, whether internal or external in origin, produced responses that inaugurated a reform process contributing significantly to the end of the USSR and the satellite states in Central and Eastern Europe. In other cases repressive measures managed to contain the challenge and the regime maintained power in the period.

Areas on which the source-based questions will focus are:

• the struggle for power following the death of Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), Hua Guofeng

(Hua Kuo‑feng), the re-emergence of Deng Xiaoping (Teng Hsiao-p’ing) and the defeat of the Gang of

Four

• China under Deng Xiaoping: economic policies and the Four Modernizations

• China under Deng Xiaoping: political changes, and their limits, culminating in Tiananmen Square

(1989)

• domestic and foreign problems of the Brezhnev era: economic and political stagnation; Afghanistan

• Gorbachev and his aims/policies (glasnost and perestroika) and consequences for the Soviet state

• consequences of Gorbachev’s policies for Eastern European; reform movements: Poland—the role of

Solidarity; Czechoslovakia—the Velvet Revolution; fall of the Berlin Wall.

Objectives

Assessment objective 1: Knowledge and understanding

• Recall and select relevant historical knowledge

• Demonstrate an understanding of historical context

• Demonstrate an understanding of historical processes: cause and effect; continuity and change

• Understand historical sources (SL paper 1 and HL paper 1)

• Deploy detailed, in-depth knowledge (HL paper 3)

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a specific historical topic (IA)

Assessment objective 2: Application and interpretation

• Apply historical knowledge as evidence

• Show awareness of different approaches to, and interpretations of, historical issues and events

• Compare and contrast historical sources as evidence (SL paper 1 and HL paper 1)

• Explain the importance of historical sources (HL paper 1)

• Present a summary of evidence (IA)

Assessment objective 3: Synthesis and evaluation

• Evaluate different approaches to, and interpretations of, historical issues and events

• Evaluate historical sources as evidence (SL paper 1, HL paper 1 and IA)

• Evaluate and synthesize evidence from both historical sources and background knowledge (SL paper 1 and HL paper 1)

• Develop critical commentary using the evidence base (SL/HL paper 2 and HL paper 3)

• Synthesize by integrating evidence and critical commentary (HL paper 3)

• Present an analysis of a summary of evidence (IA)

Assessment objective 4: Use of historical skills

• Demonstrate the ability to structure an essay answer, using evidence to support relevant, balanced and focused historical arguments (SL/HL paper 2 and HL paper 3)

• Demonstrate evidence of research skills, organization and referencing (IA)

Topic 1: Causes, practices and effects of wars

War was a major feature of the 20th century. In this topic the different types of war should be identified, and the causes, practices and effects of these conflicts should be studied.

Major themes

Different types and nature of 20th century warfare

• Civil

• Guerrilla

• Limited war, total war origins and causes of wars

• Long-term, short-term and immediate causes

• Economic, ideological, political, religious causes

Nature of 20th century wars

• Technological developments, tactics and strategies, air, land and sea

• Home front: economic and social impact (including changes in the role and status of women)

• Resistance and revolutionary movements

Effects and results of wars

• Peace settlements and wars ending without treaties

• Attempts at collective security pre- and post-Second World War

• Political repercussions and territorial changes

• Post-war economic problems

Topic 5: The Cold War

This topic addresses East–West relations from 1945. It aims to promote an international perspective and understanding of the origins, course and effects of the Cold War—a conflict that dominated global affairs from the end of the Second World War to the early 1990s. It includes superpower rivalry and events in all areas affected by Cold War politics such as spheres of interest, wars (proxy), alliances and interference in developing countries.

Major themes

Origins of the Cold War

• Ideological differences

• Mutual suspicion and fear

• From wartime allies to post-war enemies

Nature of the Cold War

• Ideological opposition

• Superpowers and spheres of influence

• Alliances and diplomacy in the Cold War

Development and impact of the Cold War

• Global spread of the Cold War from its European origins

• Cold War policies of containment, brinkmanship, peaceful coexistence, détente

• Role of the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement

• Role and significance of leaders

• Arms race, proliferation and limitation

• Social, cultural and economic impact End of the Cold War

• Break-up of Soviet Union: internal problems and external pressures

• Breakdown of Soviet control over Central and Eastern Europe

Prescribed subject 3: Communism in crisis 1976‑89

This prescribed subject addresses the major challenges—social, political and economic—facing the regimes in the leading socialist (Communist) states from 1976 to 1989 and the nature of the response of these regimes. In some cases challenges, whether internal or external in origin, produced responses that inaugurated a reform process contributing significantly to the end of the USSR and the satellite states in Central and Eastern Europe. In other cases repressive measures managed to contain the challenge and the regime maintained power in the period.

Areas on which the source-based questions will focus are:

• the struggle for power following the death of Mao Zedong, Hua Guofeng, the re-emergence of Deng Xiaoping and the defeat of the Gang of Four

• China under Deng Xiaoping: economic policies and the Four Modernizations

• China under Deng Xiaoping: political changes, and their limits, culminating in Tiananmen Square (1989)

• domestic and foreign problems of the Brezhnev era: economic and political stagnation; Afghanistan

• Gorbachev and his aims/policies (glasnost and perestroika) and consequences for the Soviet state

• consequences of Gorbachev’s policies for Eastern European; reform movements: Poland—the role of Solidarity; Czechoslovakia—the Velvet Revolution; fall of the Berlin Wall.