OCR GCSE History B (Schools History Project) Component 34 June 2024 question paper

Name one achievement of Nur Jahan.

Give one example of a military campaign fought by Shah Jahan.

Give one example of Aurangzeb’s religious piety.

Write a clear and organised summary that analyses Aurangzeb’s military campaigns.

Support your summary with examples.

Why did Shah Jahan carry out major building projects during his reign (1627–1658)?

Explain your answer.

4* ‘Babur was an impressive leader and ruler in the period 1526 to 1530.’

How far do you agree?

Give reasons for your answer.

5* ‘All of Akbar’s subjects benefited from his rule.’

How far do you agree with this view of Akbar’s reign (1556–1605)?

Give reasons for your answer.

What can Source A tell us about the siege of Jerusalem in 1099?

Use the source and your own knowledge to support your answer.

Source A

An extract from an account of the First Crusade by Fulcher of Chartres. The author was a French Crusader, but he did not take part in the siege of Jerusalem. His account was written in the early 1100s.

When the Franks saw how difficult it would be to take Jerusalem, the leaders ordered scaling ladders to be made. They hoped that, with bravery and God’s help, it might be possible to climb the walls and take the city. So the ladders were made, and on the following day a splendid assault was made on the city from all sides. But the city could not be entered.

Then a council was held, and it was ordered that siege towers should be built. When a tower had been put together it was moved nearer to the wall. Then knights, few in number, but brave, took their places in the tower and began to shoot stones and arrows. The Saracens defended themselves vigorously and skilfully. Many on both sides were struck down in this fighting.

On the following day, with trumpets sounding, the Franks used the tower to enter the city. The Saracens were completely demoralised. All their former boldness vanished and they turned to flee through the narrow streets of the city.

Saracen was a term that the Crusaders used to describe Muslims who fought against them.

How useful are Interpretation B, Source C and Interpretation D for a historian studying the conflict between the Crusaders and Kerbogha at Antioch in 1098?

In your answer, refer to the two interpretations and the source as well as your own knowledge.

Interpretation B

An extract from the ‘Alexiad’, an account of the reign of the Byzantine emperor Alexios I, written by his daughter Anna in the 1140s.

After Kerbogha surrounded the Crusaders, they were soon suffering from hunger and thirst. But their bishop, Peter, inspired by God, found the Holy Lance. The Crusaders were now sure that God was with them and certain of victory. Robert of Flanders begged the others to allow him to ride out first against the Turks with just three friends. They agreed. Robert and his friends shouted ‘God is with us!’, and at full gallop they rode straight at Kerbogha himself. They struck the Turks with their spears and the Turks were thrown to the ground. The Turks were so terrified by this that they ran away before a battle could start. They could see that God was evidently helping the Christians.

Source C

An extract from the ‘Gesta Francorum’ (The Deeds of the Franks). The Gesta Francorum was an account of the First Crusade written between 1101 and 1103. The author is unknown but they were probably a Norman or Italian knight. This extract describes the battle between the Crusaders and the Turkish commander Kerbogha in 1098 at Antioch.

After Kerbogha saw the huge number in our army of Crusaders, he was greatly frightened. Fearing that the Turks would lose the battle, he sent a message ordering them to retreat if they were losing. The Turks then engaged us in battle and, by shooting arrows, killed many of our men. But then victory was ours as Christ sent Saint George and other saints and angels into battle to fight for us. This is to be believed, for many of our men saw it. When the Turks realised they could no longer hold out, many fled the battlefield.

Interpretation D

An extract from a recent article by the historian Thomas Asbridge.

When Kerbogha surrounded the Crusaders at Antioch it was the worst crisis of the First Crusade. Immobilised by fear and starvation, with morale crumbling, they were brought to the brink of defeat. Until now, most historians have argued that the discovery of the Holy Lance transformed the Crusaders’ state of mind, making them believe God was on their side. However, there was a two week delay after finding the lance before the Crusaders faced Kerbogha in battle. It is more likely that the Crusaders were forced into facing Kerbogha. They had nothing to lose.

8* ‘The First Crusade was the result of Pope Urban II’s preaching.’

How far do you agree?

Give reasons for your answer.

9* ‘Between 1096 and 1097 the Crusaders were very successful in Asia Minor.’

How far do you agree?

Give reasons for your answer.