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AQA A-Level History key terms

Planning, researching and writing the personal study Key Terms

Study Planning, researching and writing the personal study with curriculum-aligned Key Terms resources, practice links, and exam-focused support.

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key terms

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Topic

Planning, researching and writing the personal study

AqaA LevelHistoryComponent 3: Historical Investigation

Key terms

  • Militarism

    The belief in building up strong armed forces to prepare for war.

  • Totalitarianism

    A political system in which the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.

  • Causation

    The relationship between events where one event causes another.

  • Continuity

    The aspects of history that remain the same over a period of time.

  • Provenance

    The origin or source of a historical document or artifact, crucial for evaluating its authenticity and relevance.

  • Corroboration

    The process of confirming information by comparing multiple sources to establish reliability and accuracy.

  • Source Evaluation

    The process of assessing the credibility, reliability, and relevance of historical sources.

  • Historical Context

    The social, political, and economic environment in which historical events occur.

  • Causation

    The relationship between cause and effect in historical events.

  • Interpretation

    The way historians understand and explain past events, often influenced by their perspectives and contexts.

  • Primary Source

    An original document or evidence created during the time of the event being studied.

  • Historiography

    The study of historical writing and the interpretation of historical events by historians.

  • Provenance

    The history of ownership and transmission of a source, which can affect its reliability and interpretation.

  • Contextual Value

    The significance of a source based on the circumstances surrounding its creation, including the time, place, and purpose.

  • Primary Source

    An original document or firsthand account from the time period being studied.

  • Historical Interpretation

    The analysis and explanation of historical events by historians, which can vary based on perspective.

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