HISTORY : GCSE TO A LEVEL BRIDGING ACTIVITY
Welcome to A Level History!
Going from GCSE to A Level History is an exciting and rewarding timeHowever, it is also going to be very challenging as you will have to be a much more independent learner in terms of carrying out research, writing it up and developing your own opinions backed up by evidence.
To help prepare you for this transition, the History Department would like you to undertake a summer research activity, to be handed in on the first day of the new course in September.
We will be studying the OCR History A Level course and because you have done well in GCSE History, we are confident that you will be up to the following challenge!
. In the first half of the 16th century there were 2 very significant Kings in Europe : Henry VIII of England (family name – Tudor) and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (family name - Habsburg).
Your task is to write a 1,500 word report evaluating the significance of the 2 monarchs.
Title : WHO WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT MONARCH IN EUROPE: HENRYV111 OR CHARLES V ?
You will need to include:
1. A biographical Fact File of information about each man.
2. An evaluation of their achievements, including their international importance and relations with other countries
3. Any mistakes that they made.
4. Finally – who do you think was the most significant of the three? For this you will need to support your case with evidence- can you find primary sources?
You need to convince Ms. Pearson and Ms. Halligan that your opinion is right!
WHERE TO START?
http// archives.gov.uk/education - the Early Modern section.
Websites of the BBC, Encyclopaedia Britannica.
The following books will give you an insight into world of intrigue and politics in the Tudor Court – far more dangerous than nowadays.
Make a mistake as a Minister now and it might cost you your job. Then it would cost you your life!
These books are all very readable – not too heavy and lots of anecdotes. They should all be available in your local library or as Ebooks.
Biographies : Henry VIII by Jasper Ridley
Thomas Cromwell by Tracy Borman
Very well researched novels
“Wolf Hall” and “Bring Up The Bodies” by Hilary Mantel ( Both of these won the Booker Prize)
“Dissolution” by C.J.Sansom (crime and intrigue at the court of Henry VIII)
We are looking forward to welcoming you to A Level History in September. Enjoy the summer!