Question
Examine the institutions and organizations that either medieval European or Islamic rulers used to successfully legitimize and sustain their rule.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates must consider both of the named factors in terms of how they were used by rulers in order to develop and maintain support for their rule. Either medieval Europe or the Islamic world should be the focus of the response and candidates are expected to reach a reasoned conclusion.
Indicative content
Medieval European rulers:
• Central bureaucracies created regulations, supervised the population and collected taxes, which allowed for expansion of royal power.
• Law codes extended royal authority, limited power of local officials and established codes of behaviour for all.
• Law courts expanded the king’s presence and prestige and were a source of revenue.
• Alliance with the Church increased the monarch’s legitimacy through ceremonies such as coronations.
• The Church supported respect for authority and provided educated officials to the royal bureaucracy.
• The establishment of standing armies increased authority and reduced the ruler’s dependence on the nobility.
Muslim rulers:
• The establishment of powerful standing armies stationed in key locations helped maintain the ruler’s authority.
• The organization of a strong governmental structure to collect taxes and supervise the population was critical, as was gaining support from religious authorities.
• Alliances with influential local and tribal leaders provided important support to the ruler’s authority.
• Successful military campaigns increased the ruler’s popularity and authority.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
Examine the institutions and organizations that either medieval European or Islamic rulers used to successfully legitimize and sustain their rule.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates must consider both of the named factors in terms of how they were used by rulers in order to develop and maintain support for their rule. Either medieval Europe or the Islamic world should be the focus of the response and candidates are expected to reach a reasoned conclusion.
Indicative content
Medieval European rulers:
• Central bureaucracies created regulations, supervised the population and collected taxes, which allowed for expansion of royal power.
• Law codes extended royal authority, limited power of local officials and established codes of behaviour for all.
• Law courts expanded the king’s presence and prestige and were a source of revenue.
• Alliance with the Church increased the monarch’s legitimacy through ceremonies such as coronations.
• The Church supported respect for authority and provided educated officials to the royal bureaucracy.
• The establishment of standing armies increased authority and reduced the ruler’s dependence on the nobility.
Muslim rulers:
• The establishment of powerful standing armies stationed in key locations helped maintain the ruler’s authority.
• The organization of a strong governmental structure to collect taxes and supervise the population was critical, as was gaining support from religious authorities.
• Alliances with influential local and tribal leaders provided important support to the ruler’s authority.
• Successful military campaigns increased the ruler’s popularity and authority.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
Examine the reasons for the rise of either the Fatimid or Carolingian Empire.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
With reference to either the Fatimid Empire or the Carolingian Empire, candidates need to consider the reasons why their chosen empire rose to significance. Candidates should consider a range of reasons and provide a substantiated conclusion.
Indicative content
Fatimids:
• The conversion of the Berbers to the Ismaili faith, which provided a powerful army.
• The claim of the caliph to be descendant of Muhammad created more support.
• Their commercial operations in the Mediterranean provided additional wealth, leading to the conquest of Egypt.
• Their policies of tolerance attracted support from non-Muslim groups.
• The weakness and unpopularity of the Abbasids was a crucial factor.
Carolingians:
• Charles Martel restored and reunited the eventual Carolingian territory.
• The Carolingian leader Pepin ousted the Merovingians from power and was supported by the pope.
• Pepin was a successful military leader who expanded and consolidated the Carolingian territories.
• The Carolingians took over a successful and wealthy kingdom when they ousted the Merovingians.
• Charlemagne was a very successful military leader and administrator who conquered large amounts of territory and solidified his rule through a strong alliance with the Church.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
Evaluate the role played by invasion and settlement in the establishment of one Islamic or medieval European state.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates should make an appraisal of the impact of invasion and settlement or conquest of their chosen state. They will need to consider other contributory factors for context, but the emphasis of the response should be on the named factor. A substantiated judgment should be expected.
Indicative content
• Candidates must select one medieval European or Islamic state and determine how important invasion and settlement were in the creation/foundation of that state.
• Popular examples may include: the Umayyad conquest of Spain in 714, the Seljuq invasions, the Fatimid State, the Crusader states, the Angevin Empire and the Carolingian Empire.
• Candidates must analyse how crucial the process of invasion and settlement was in the establishment of the state relative to other factors. These other factors may include: the ruler’s popularity/personality with the population; new policies introduced by the conquering leader; support of key groups in the society such as the Church; the unpopularity of the previous rulers that may have caused the population to welcome an invader.
• Conquests were important in a number of ways: it could remove challengers to power; eliminate any groups that might challenge authority; subdue any possible thoughts of rebellion by the populace; act as a powerful force that could dictate policy and organize the society; make changes to institutions or have imported new institutions that would have solidified their power.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
Compare and contrast the success of William I of England (1066–1087) and Louis VI of France (1108–1137) in creating a strong central government.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates should consider the extent to which the named rulers enjoyed success in creating a strong central government and should consider the similarities and differences in the nature of that success. Candidates may assert that one ruler was more successful than the other, but there is no prescribed method of response.
Indicative content
Compare:
• Both rulers were successful in gaining the support of the Church, which provided them with funds, prestige, advisers and bureaucrats for the royal administration.
• Both were successful in expanding their control of the administration of justice through royal courts, which expanded their authority.
• Both were able to expand their personal prestige and eliminate any rivals for their thrones.
• Both men laid down the foundations for their successors to continue as powerful rulers.
Contrast:
• William was successful in reducing the power of the nobility through a rigorous feudal system while Louis struggled to control powerful vassals and made only modest progress in expanding his authority over them. He failed in his attempts to control Henry I as Duke of Normandy.
• Louis controlled only a portion of his kingdom while William conquered all of Britain, retained Normandy and eliminated any sources of resistance.
• William introduced extensive new legal codes, taxation systems and bureaucracies. Louis tried to do the same but with far less success.
• William was a powerful and successful military leader while Louis was not always a successful military leader.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
Examine the reasons why either Frederick I (Barbarossa) (1155–1190) or ‘Abd al-Rahman III of Spain (912–961) was a successful ruler.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates must analyse the success (or otherwise) of their chosen exemplar as ruler of Spain. The focus should be on an analysis of their level of success in achieving their goals and not simply a narrative of their career as a ruler.
Indicative content
Frederick I (Barbarossa):
• Frederick I wished to restore his authority in Germany and unite Germany into a peaceful realm. In addition, he sought to reassert control of the Holy Roman Empire over Italy.
• In his efforts to reassert his authority over the feudal lords in Germany, Frederick outlawed private wars. He was initially successful but because of his absences and devotion of resources to Italy, his aims ultimately failed and he was unable to assert his authority effectively.
• He failed to develop an effective administration that could maintain order in his absence.
• Germany became more divided than before among the powerful nobles.
• He devoted many resources to controlling Italy and exercising control over the papacy. In both these aims he was ultimately unsuccessful due to the continued resistance of the Italian towns and the papacy.
• Frederick was not a successful ruler in terms of the goals that he had hoped to accomplish. ‘Abd al-Rahman III:
• His goals were to restore the territory and power lost under his father, and to restore the financial stability of the caliphate and to expand its power. He wished to maintain the wealth and opulence of the lands of the Caliphate. He also had to defend against threats from other Muslim groups such as the Fatimids in North Africa.
• He built a magnificent palace at Madinat al Zahra that far surpassed any European edifice and was a powerful symbol of the dominance of the Umayyad dynasty. He expanded the libraries of Cordoba and the work of the scholars there. He continued the intellectual dominance of Spain over Europe.
• He encouraged the commerce of al-Andalus and expanded the wealth of its citizens. The taxes collected on this growing wealth allowed him to recruit a professional army – his citizens had no need to participate in wars.
• As a military leader he successfully defended against the Christian kingdoms and expanded al-Andalus. At his death the caliphate was at the height of its power.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
Examine the reasons why either Frederick I (Barbarossa) (1155–1190) or ‘Abd al-Rahman III of Spain (912–961) was a successful ruler.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates must analyse the success (or otherwise) of their chosen exemplar as ruler of Spain. The focus should be on an analysis of their level of success in achieving their goals and not simply a narrative of their career as a ruler.
Indicative content
Frederick I (Barbarossa):
• Frederick I wished to restore his authority in Germany and unite Germany into a peaceful realm. In addition, he sought to reassert control of the Holy Roman Empire over Italy.
• In his efforts to reassert his authority over the feudal lords in Germany, Frederick outlawed private wars. He was initially successful but because of his absences and devotion of resources to Italy, his aims ultimately failed and he was unable to assert his authority effectively.
• He failed to develop an effective administration that could maintain order in his absence.
• Germany became more divided than before among the powerful nobles.
• He devoted many resources to controlling Italy and exercising control over the papacy. In both these aims he was ultimately unsuccessful due to the continued resistance of the Italian towns and the papacy.
• Frederick was not a successful ruler in terms of the goals that he had hoped to accomplish. ‘Abd al-Rahman III:
• His goals were to restore the territory and power lost under his father, and to restore the financial stability of the caliphate and to expand its power. He wished to maintain the wealth and opulence of the lands of the Caliphate. He also had to defend against threats from other Muslim groups such as the Fatimids in North Africa.
• He built a magnificent palace at Madinat al Zahra that far surpassed any European edifice and was a powerful symbol of the dominance of the Umayyad dynasty. He expanded the libraries of Cordoba and the work of the scholars there. He continued the intellectual dominance of Spain over Europe.
• He encouraged the commerce of al-Andalus and expanded the wealth of its citizens. The taxes collected on this growing wealth allowed him to recruit a professional army – his citizens had no need to participate in wars.
• As a military leader he successfully defended against the Christian kingdoms and expanded al-Andalus. At his death the caliphate was at the height of its power.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
Evaluate the reasons for the changing role and status of the nobility in the government of medieval European states.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates are required to make an appraisal of the reasons for the changes which took place.
Indicative content
• Nobles were seen as rivals and obstacles to monarchs’ attempts to increase their power.
• Central bureaucracies were established by rulers to replace the nobles as collectors of taxes and administrators of justice.
• Royal officials were appointed to monitor the activities of nobles and other local authorities.
• The middle classes increasingly replaced nobles in running the state administration, thus reducing the nobility’s power in government.
• The money provided by taxing the growing middle class gave the king military power to crush noble power or challenges.
• The Church limited noble power by supporting the monarch and providing him with administrators and revenues. The Church preferred central government to limit wars and local disputes.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
Evaluate the reasons for the changing role and status of the nobility in the government of medieval European states.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates are required to make an appraisal of the reasons for the changes which took place.
Indicative content
• Nobles were seen as rivals and obstacles to monarchs’ attempts to increase their power.
• Central bureaucracies were established by rulers to replace the nobles as collectors of taxes and administrators of justice.
• Royal officials were appointed to monitor the activities of nobles and other local authorities.
• The middle classes increasingly replaced nobles in running the state administration, thus reducing the nobility’s power in government.
• The money provided by taxing the growing middle class gave the king military power to crush noble power or challenges.
• The Church limited noble power by supporting the monarch and providing him with administrators and revenues. The Church preferred central government to limit wars and local disputes.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.