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Develop an understanding of, and continuing interest in, the past
Encourage students to engage with multiple perspectives and to appreciate the complex nature of historical concepts, issues, events and developments
Promote international-mindedness through the study of history from more than one region of the world
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Browse IB History notes, questionbank questions, videos, and flashcards, and revision tools for SL and HL.
IB History is a Group 3 subject in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). It explores global historical events, themes, and perspectives from 750 CE to 2000 CE, with a strong focus on critical analysis of historical sources, comparative study of different regions and time periods, and independent historical investigation.
The course is available at Standard Level (SL), 150 teaching hours and Higher Level (HL), 240 teaching hours, with first assessment in 2025.
| Assessment | Format | SL | HL | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Source-based questions on prescribed subjects | 1 hour | 1 hour | 40% (SL), 20% (HL) |
| Paper 2 | Essay questions on world history topics | 1 hour 30 minutes | 1 hour 30 minutes | 40% (SL), 30% (HL) |
| Paper 3 | Essay questions on HL options (regional studies) | N/A | 2 hours 30 minutes | 30% (HL only) |
| Historical Investigation | Independent research investigation | 20 hours | 20 hours | 20% |
The impact of Japanese nationalism and militarism on foreign policy
Japanese expansion in East Asia - Causes of expansion
Japanese expansion in East Asia - Events and Responses
German and Italian Expansion (1933-1940) - Causes of expansion
German expansion - Events and Responses
Italian expansion - Events and Responses
Civil rights movement in the United States - Nature and characteristics of discrimination
Civil rights movement in the United States - Protests and action
Civil rights movement in the United States - The role and significance of key actors/groups
Apartheid South Africa - Nature and characteristics of discrimination
Apartheid South Africa - Protests and action
Apartheid South Africa - The role and significance of key actors/groups
Section 1: Monarchies in England and France (1066–1223)
Section 2: Muslims and Jews in Medieval Europe (1095–1492)
Section 3: Late Medieval Political Crises (1300–1487)
Section 4: The Renaissance (c1400–1600)
Section 5: The Age of Exploration and Its Impact (1400–1550)
Section 6: Aspects of the Reformation (c1500–1563)
Section 7: Absolutism and Enlightenment (1650–1800)
Section 8: The French Revolution and Napoleon I (1774–1815)
Section 9: France (1815–1914)
Section 10: Society, Politics & Economy in Britain and Ireland (1815–1914)
Section 11: Italy (1815–1871) and Germany (1815–1890)
Section 12: Imperial Russia, Revolution and the Establishment of the Soviet Union (1855–1924)
Section 13: Europe and the First World War (1871–1918)
Section 14: Inter-war Domestic Developments in European states (1918–1939)
Section 15: Diplomacy in Europe (1919–1945)
Section 16: The Soviet Union and Post-Soviet Russia (1924–2000)
Section 17: Post-War Western and Northern Europe (1945–2000)
Section 18: Post-War Central and Eastern Europe (1945–2000)
Section 1: Indigenous societies and cultures in the Americas (c750–1500)
Section 2: European explorations and conquests in the Americas (c1492–c1600)
Section 3: Colonial government in the New World (1500–1800)
Section 4: Religion in the New World (1500–1800)
Section 5: Slavery and the New World (1500–1800)
Section 6: Independence Movements (1763–1830)
Section 7: Nation-building and Challenges (1780–1870)
Section 8: US Civil War (1840–1877)
Section 9: The Development of Modern Nations (1865–1929)
Section 10: Emergence of the Americas in global affairs (1880–1929)
Section 11: The Mexican Revolution (1884–1940)
Section 12: The Great Depression and the Americas (mid 1920s–1939)
Section 13: The Second World War and the Americas (1933–1945)
Section 14: Political Developments in Latin America (1945–1980)
Section 15: Political developments in the United States (1945–1980) and Canada (1945–1982)
Section 16: The Cold War and the Americas (1945–1981)
Section 17: Civil rights and social movements in the Americas post-1945
Section 18: The Americas (1980–2005)
Paper 3 - History of Africa and the Middle East
Section 1: Trade & Exchange: The Silk Road in the Medieval World
Section 2: Japan in the Age of the Samurai (1180–1333)
Section 3: Exploration, trade and interaction in East Asia & South-East Asia (1405–1700)
Section 4: The Rise & Fall of the Mughal Empire (1526–1712)
Section 5: Colonialism and Nationalism in South-East Asia
Section 6: India, Afghanistan and Burma (1750–1919)
Section 7: Challenges to Traditional East Asian Societies (1700–1868)
Section 8: British Colonialism & Emerging National Identities in Oceania (1788–1919)
Section 9: Early Modernization & Imperial Decline in East Asia (1860–1912)
Section 10: Nationalism & Independence in India (1919–1964)
Section 11: Japan (1912–1990)
Section 12: China and Korea (1910–1950)
Section 13: Impact of the Second World War on South-East Asia
Section 14: The People’s Republic of China (1949–2005)
Section 15: Cold War Conflicts in Asia
Section 16: Developments and Challenges in South Asia after 1947
Section 17: Oceania after the Second World War (1945–2005)
Section 18: Asia (excluding China, Japan and India) (1980–2005)
