Acknowledgements xiii
1 Historical skills and concepts 1
1.1 Overview 1
1.2 Why we study history 2
1.3 Historical skills 4
1.4 Ages, time and chronology 9
1.5 Detective work and archaeology 12
1.6 Dating historical evidence 16
1.7 Perspectives and empathy 17
1.8 SkillBuilder: Sequencing events in chronological order
1.9 Review
2 From the ancient to the modern world 22
2.1 Overview 22
2.2 Examining the evidence 24
2.3 People on the move 27
2.4 Religions on the move 31
2.5 A different way of life 34
2.6 Rulers, religion and the changing map of medieval Europe 37
2.7 Migrations, invasions and empires in Asia 42
2.8 Population, cities and trade 46
2.9 Muslim traders and Africa 48
2.10 The emerging power of western Europe 51
2.11 Portuguese and Spanish voyages of discovery 54
2.12 Vasco da Gama opens the East 57
2.13 Consequences of the discoveries 60
2.14 SkillBuilder: Explaining different historical interpretations
2.15 Thinking Big research project: Time travel brochure
2.16 Review
3 The Vikings (c. 790–1066) 67
3.1 Overview 67
3.2 Examining the evidence 69
3.3 Scandinavia before the Viking Age 71
3.4 The Viking homelands 73
3.5 Viking society 77
3.6 Early Viking religion 81
3.7 Viking longships 85
3.8 Viking weaponry 87
3.9 Viking invasions and settlements 90
3.10 Viking explorers, settlers and traders 92
3.11 The spread of Christianity 95
3.12 Harald Bluetooth: Viking king of Denmark 97
3.13 The Battle of Hastings and the end of the Viking Age 100
3.14 Heritage of the Vikings: governing Iceland in the Viking Age 103
3.15 SkillBuilder: Interpreting sources on the Vikings
3.16 Thinking Big research project: Write a Viking saga
3.17 Review
4 Medieval Europe (c.590–1500) 108
4.1 Overview 108
4.2 Examining the evidence 110
4.3 The impact of the ‘barbarian’ invasions 112
4.4 Early medieval Christianity 115
4.5 The feudal system 119
4.6 Life on the manor for men, women and children 121
4.7 The knight 124
4.8 Medieval warfare 127
4.9 Castles 129
4.10 The power of the medieval Church 132
4.11 Monasteries and convents 134
4.12 The Crusades 137
4.13 The Age of Faith 140
4.14 Towns and trades 144
4.15 Living conditions and medical science in the fourteenth century 146
4.16 The Black Death 151
4.17 How did the Black Death change society? 155
4.18 The Peasants’ Revolt 158
4.19 Joan of Arc 161
4.20 The heritage of medieval Europe 165
4.21 SkillBuilder: Interpreting medieval art as sources
4.22 Thinking Big research project: Festival of Lost Trades
4.23 Review
5 The Ottoman Empire (c.1299–1683) 171
5.1 Overview 171
5.2 Examining the evidence 173
5.3 Origins of the Empire 175
5.4 The golden age of Islam 180
5.5 The beginnings of the Ottoman Empire 183
5.6 The Black Death and the Ottoman Empire 186
5.7 The fall of Constantinople 191
5.8 Suleiman the Magnificent 197
5.9 Life in the Ottoman Empire 201
5.10 Ottoman art, architecture and literature 206
5.11 SkillBuilder: Evaluating Ottoman Empire sources
5.12 Thinking Big research project: Ottoman Empire documentary
5.13 Review
6 Angkor and the Khmer Empire (c 802–1431) 212
6.1 Overview 212
6.2 Examining the evidence 214
6.3 Environment and peoples 216
6.4 The historical setting 219
6.5 The rise of Angkor and the Khmer Empire 222
6.6 Religious beliefs and values 226
6.7 Khmer society 230
6.8 Angkor’s buildings 234
6.9 Decline and fall: the historical debate 237
6.10 Legacies of the Khmer Empire 240
6.11 SkillBuilder: Making your own notes to analyse relevant sources
6.12 Thinking Big research project: Khmer Empire costume and set design
6.13 Review
7 Mongol expansion (c.1206–1368) 248
7.1 Overview 248
7.2 Examining the evidence 250
7.3 Life in imperial China before the Mongol conquest 252
7.4 The Mongol people and their land 257
7.5 The rise of Temujin 261
7.6 The Mongol army 264
7.7 Mongol rule — the Yuan dynasty 269
7.8 Culture and beliefs at the khan’s court 272
7.9 The travels of Marco Polo 277
7.10 Defeat of the Mongol Empire 280
7.11 The Mongol legacy 283
7.12 SkillBuilder: Analysing different perspectives
7.13 Thinking Big research project: The Mongol expansion show
7.14 Review
8 Japan under the shoguns (c.794–1867) 288
8.1 Overview 288
8.2 Examining the evidence 290
8.3 Ancient and Classical Japan 294
8.4 The rise of the shoguns 298
8.5 Challenges to shogunate rule 301
8.6 The Tokugawa shogunate 305
8.7 Japanese feudal society 309
8.8 The samurai 313
8.9 The role of women 317
8.10 Arts and culture 321
8.11 Land use under the Tokugawa shoguns 325
8.12 Foreign devils 329
8.13 Emperor Meiji and modern Japan 334
8.14 SkillBuilder: Analysing cause and effect
8.15 Thinking Big research project: Shinto and Buddhism guidebook
8.16 Review
9 Polynesian expansion across the Pacific (c. 700–1756) 341
9.1 Overview 341
9.2 Examining the evidence 343
9.3 The Polynesian triangle 345
9.4 Rapa Nui 348
9.5 Discovery of the land of the long white cloud 351
9.6 Maori society — an overview 355
9.7 People and the environment 359
9.8 Living in a Maori village 364
9.9 Customs and culture 365
9.10 SkillBuilder: Making your own notes from sources
9.11 Thinking Big research project: Polynesian travel show
9.12 Review
10 Renaissance Italy (c.1400–1600) 372
10.1 Overview 372
10.2 Examining the evidence 374
10.3 The origins of the Renaissance 376
10.4 Florence: the cradle of the Renaissance 378
10.5 Venice: the serene republic 383
10.6 Renaissance society 386
10.7 Artistic stars of the Renaissance 390
10.8 The spread of the Renaissance 394
10.9 A scientific revolution 396
10.10 The Reformation and Counter-Reformation 400
10.11 Legacies of the Renaissance 403
10.12 SkillBuilder: Evaluating historical significance
10.13 Thinking Big research project: Renaissance online magazine
10.14 Review
11 The Spanish conquest of the Americas (c. 1492–1572) 409
11.1 Overview 409
11.2 Examining the evidence 411
11.3 The Aztecs before Spanish arrival 413
11.4 Columbus and the New World 418
11.5 Cortes, the conquistadors and the Aztecs 422
11.6 New Spain 427
11.7 Slavery in the New World 430
11.8 The impact and legacy of colonisation 435
11.9 SkillBuilder: Evaluating roles and achievements
11.10 Thinking Big research project: Spanish conquest exhibition
11.11 Review
Glossary 442
Index 449
