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Disciplinary Knowledge - Causation

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Causation in History

Historical changes happen due to individuals and broader conditions. These causes can be short or long-term.

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Specific causes

  • Historical changes often happen because of specific causes.
  • These specific causes can be divided into two main categories: individual actions and broader conditions.
    • Individual actions are decisions or events caused by a single person e.g. a king starting a war.
    • Broader conditions are the social, political, or economic situations that influence events.
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Individual conditions

  • Individuals can have a big impact on history.
    • William the Conqueror made personal decisions that helped him win the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
    • William prepared carefully, gathered a strong army, and used clever tactics in the battle.
  • Personal choices like these are important because they can lead to significant changes in history.
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Broader conditions

  • Broader conditions, like the economy or society, can make people behave in certain ways.
    • In the Battle of Hastings, the conditions in England played a big part.
    • King Harold’s army was tired after fighting another battle, and England had recently experienced a lot of political instability.
    • These conditions made it harder for Harold to defend his kingdom.
  • When conditions are challenging, it can be easier for change to happen.
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Individual and broader conditions together

  • Sometimes, individuals and broader conditions work together to create change.
    • If a country is struggling economically, a strong leader might emerge to fix the problem.
    • This leader’s decisions might change history, but those decisions are influenced by the existing economic struggles.
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Time

  • The causes of historical change can also be grouped by time.
  • Some causes happen quickly and are called short-term causes.
  • Other causes develop slowly over many years.
    • In the Battle of Hastings, the immediate battle plan (short-term cause) and the years of rivalry between William and Harold (long-term cause) both led to William’s victory.
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Studying causation

  • When causes lead to change, these changes also have consequences.
    • After William won the Battle of Hastings, England changed in many ways, such as the introduction of the feudal system and new laws.
  • Understanding the causes of an event helps us understand the effects that follow.

Jump to other topics

1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5Medieval Religion

1.6The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12European Renaissance

1.13Norman Conquest & Control

1.14Historical Skills

2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4King John

2.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6The Black Death

3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

18World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

19The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

20Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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