Cambridge IGCSE History 0470

Learn 200 Cambridge IGCSE History words for explaining causes, evaluating documents and writing depth-study judgements. Every entry includes a meaning and a short usage example.

For Cambridge IGCSE History 0470 in 2027–2028, all candidates take Paper 1 Structured Questions and Paper 2 Document Questions. They also take either Component 3 Coursework or Paper 4 Alternative to Coursework.

200 words and examples
Exam requirements and worked examples
Fencing Method
Practice exercises

200 essay vocabulary words and examples

Causes, decisions and source evidence in Cambridge History

inference — a conclusion drawn from clues and reasoning. support the inference with a detail from the source.
subtext — a meaning suggested without being stated directly. explain how the cartoon’s details communicate its subtext.
audience — the people a source was intended to reach. consider how the intended audience shapes the speech.
purpose — what a source was produced to achieve. connect its purpose to what the author chose to emphasise.
message — the main idea a source conveys. state the cartoon’s message in your own words.
cross-reference — checking one source against another source or detail. cross-reference the claim with a source addressing the same event.
reliability — how much confidence a claim or source merits for a specific purpose. test reliability using knowledge of the event.
utility — the usefulness of evidence for a specific enquiry. explain how a biased source can still have utility.
contradiction — a conflict between two claims or accounts. identify the exact contradiction before explaining it.
surprise — a response to evidence that conflicts with a reasoned expectation. state what you expected and why the source challenges it.
context — the circumstances relevant to an event or source. use context to explain the author’s choice of message.
appeasement — a policy of making concessions to avoid or delay conflict. weigh the aims and effects of appeasement in a specific case.
collective security — an arrangement in which members act together against aggression. test collective security by looking at a response to a crisis.
sanction — a restriction used to influence conduct. judge whether the sanction changed the targeted government’s options.
reparations — payments or transfers required as compensation for harm or losses. distinguish reparations from other settlement terms.
disarmament — the reduction or limitation of arms or armed forces. explain why disarmament negotiations were difficult.
diplomacy — management of relations through negotiation and communication. compare diplomacy with military pressure.
alliance — a commitment to cooperate for shared purposes, often in security. identify what the alliance promised and what members actually did.
escalation — an increase in the intensity or scope of a conflict. explain how a decision contributed to escalation.
containment — a strategy aimed at limiting the spread of a rival power or influence. identify which actions can support a claim about containment.

Historical argument and historical evidence

interpretation — a reasoned account of the past that selects and explains evidence. compare how each interpretation explains the turning point.
provenance — the origin and circumstances of production of a source. use provenance to explain what the source can reveal.
contemporary — belonging to the period being studied. a contemporary account captures what an observer could know at the time.
retrospective — produced after the events it discusses. retrospective testimony may draw on later knowledge.
corroboration — support for a claim from additional evidence. look for independent corroboration of the reported decision.
silence — the absence of certain voices or details in a source or archive. the archive’s silence limits conclusions about ordinary workers.
representativeness — how far evidence reflects a wider group or situation. evaluate representativeness before generalising from one district.
continuity — persistence of a feature over time. contrast continuity in enforcement with change in formal rights.
turning point — an event or period that substantially redirects developments. explain what changed after the proposed turning point.
periodisation — division of the past into periods to make patterns easier to analyse. test whether the proposed periodisation fits both regions.
trajectory — the direction or pattern of development over time. trace the trajectory before and after the reform.
contingency — dependence on circumstances that could have turned out differently. show where a decision introduced contingency.
structural factor — a durable feature of institutions, society or the economy that shapes outcomes. connect a structural factor to the choices available.
trigger — an immediate event that sets a process in motion. distinguish a trigger from the longer-term causes.
agency — the ability of people or groups to act within constraints. use the petition to demonstrate political agency.
constraint — a circumstance or rule that limits available choices. explain how the financial constraint affected the policy.
consolidation — the process of strengthening control or making a change more secure. assess whether the law contributed to consolidation of power.
implementation — putting a decision or rule into effect. compare the policy’s aim with its local implementation.
enforcement — measures used to secure compliance with a law or decision. look for evidence of enforcement beyond the statute.
anachronism — placing a concept, practice or object in the wrong historical time. avoid anachronism when explaining what actors understood by the term.

Comparative historical judgement

historiography — the study of how historians have written and interpreted history. historiography reveals changes in emphasis.
archive — a collection of records or the place holding them. use an archive to check the date of a decision.
citizenship — recognized membership in a political community with associated rights and duties. explain how citizenship changed under the Fourteenth Amendment.
equal protection — the constitutional principle that states must provide equal protection of their laws to persons within their jurisdiction. trace the equal protection argument to the Fourteenth Amendment.
chronology — the order and timing of events. check the chronology of the proposed causes.
sequence — the order in which things happen. explain the sequence from decision to outcome.
disenfranchisement — denial or removal of effective voting rights. identify how a voting rule contributed to disenfranchisement.
comparability — the extent to which cases can be fairly compared. explain comparability across two regions.
commensurable — measurable or assessable by a shared standard. choose outcomes that are commensurable.
regional — relating to a particular region. compare regional conditions.
case — a specific situation studied to test or illustrate an idea. select a case from the studied theme.
segregation — enforced or sustained separation of groups in institutions or places. describe where and how segregation operated.
divergence — movement away from a shared pattern or direction. explain the divergence between the two cases.
Jim Crow — the system of racial segregation and subordination associated particularly with the U.S. South after Reconstruction. connect a specific voting restriction to Jim Crow.
rupture — a break with an earlier arrangement. argue that the reform marked a rupture.
asymmetrical — unequal or unbalanced across sides. an asymmetrical distribution of power.
multicausal — arising from more than one cause. develop a multicausal explanation.
structural — arising from established systems or arrangements. a structural constraint on reform.
sharecropping — farming land in return for giving a share of the crop to the landowner. explain how credit arrangements could constrain sharecropping families.
reconstruction — the process of rebuilding institutions or practices after disruption. political reconstruction after conflict.

Causation and historical significance

catalyst — a factor that speeds up an existing process or makes action more likely. the crisis acted as a catalyst for reform.
precondition — a circumstance that must exist for something else to happen. a precondition for a political alliance.
precipitate — bring about an event suddenly or sooner than expected. a dispute precipitated the breakdown.
entrench — make an arrangement or attitude firmly established. entrench an existing division.
consolidate — strengthen control or combine gains into a more stable position. consolidate political authority.
mobilise — organise people or resources for action. mobilise supporters ahead of a vote.
ratification — formal approval of an agreement or decision. the Senate withheld ratification.
settlement — an agreement or arrangement resolving part of a dispute. a postwar settlement.
presuppose — treat something as already true before arguing. presuppose that demand is fixed.
sovereignty — the authority of a state to govern itself. a debate about national sovereignty.
coalition — a group formed through cooperation among distinct parties. assemble a governing coalition.
conflate — treat distinct things as if they were the same. conflate availability with accessibility.
legitimacy — acceptance that a system or authority is rightful. a challenge to political legitimacy.
coercion — use of pressure or force to secure compliance. distinguish consent from coercion.
convict leasing — leasing incarcerated people’s labor to private parties by government authorities. compare convict leasing with the formal end of slavery.
fragmentation — division into parts that cannot easily act together. political fragmentation weakened the coalition.
Great Migration — the large-scale movement of African Americans from the U.S. South to other regions in the twentieth century. connect a source about northern jobs to the Great Migration.
counterfactual — a reasoned consideration of what might have happened under different conditions. test a factor with a cautious counterfactual.
intermediate — coming between earlier reasons and the main result. identify an intermediate conclusion.
durability — the ability of an effect or institution to last. judge the durability of the settlement.

Global connections and historical processes

contextualization — placing a development within a relevant broader historical situation. contextualization links the trade route to empire.
unstated — implied without being expressed directly. an unstated assumption about access.
transformation — a major change in the structure or character of something. the transformation of long-distance trade.
interregional — connecting or involving different regions. interregional exchange across the Pacific.
brokerage — work that connects parties and helps exchanges happen. commercial brokerage between ports.
diaspora — a population dispersed from a place of origin. a merchant diaspora maintaining trade links.
commodity — a good traded for value. silver circulated as a valuable commodity.
circulation — movement of people, goods or ideas through a system. circulation of manufactured goods.
extraction — removal of resources or value from a place or group. colonial extraction of mineral wealth.
tributary — relating to payments or obligations owed to a stronger power. a tributary relationship between states.
mercantilism — policies seeking to strengthen state power through managed trade and wealth. mercantilism shaped imperial restrictions.
commercialization — expansion of activity directed towards markets or sale. commercialization changed patterns of production.
monopoly — exclusive or dominant control of a trade or resource. a state-backed trading monopoly.
maritime — relating to the sea or sea travel. maritime trade linked distant ports.
syncretism — blending of elements from different traditions. religious syncretism in a contact zone.
imperial — relating to an empire or the extension of its rule. imperial control of a trade route.
labour — work or the workers who do it. coerced labour supported extraction.
integration — bringing separate parts into a connected system. commercial integration across regions.
asymmetry — an imbalance between parties in power, scale or opportunity. asymmetry in trading relationships.
period — a defined span of time relevant to the question. keep the argument within the specified period.

Taking a position

claim — a statement you want the reader to accept. make a claim.
stance — your position on a question. take a clear stance.
thesis — the central position or interpretation your response develops. support the thesis.
premise — an idea the argument starts from. question the premise.
assumption — something treated as true without being established. test the assumption.
assert — state a position firmly. assert that access matters.
argue — give reasons in support of a position. argue for a trial.
maintain — continue to hold or defend a view. maintain that the policy is fair.
contend — put forward a position that can be challenged. contend that the proposal is workable.
justify — give sufficient reasons for a decision or judgement. justify the expense.
advocate — publicly support an action or change. advocate for reform.
defend — answer criticism of a view or choice. defend a decision.
qualify — limit a statement so it applies only where warranted. qualify the conclusion.
concede — acknowledge a valid point made by the other side. concede that costs may rise.
rebut — answer an opposing claim with reasoning or evidence. rebut the objection.
counterargument — a reasoned objection to a position. address a counterargument.
reservation — a concern that makes agreement incomplete. express a reservation.
distinguish — show what makes two things different. distinguish cost from value.
criteria — standards used to judge something. agree on the criteria.
verdict — a final judgement reached after consideration. reach a verdict.

Using evidence and reasoning

evidence — information that helps establish a claim. draw on evidence.
example — a specific case that makes a general point clearer. give a concrete example.
illustrate — make an idea clearer through a case or detail. illustrate the difficulty.
demonstrate — show how or why something is true. demonstrate a connection.
substantiate — support a claim with convincing information. substantiate the allegation.
corroborate — provide independent support for an existing account. corroborate the witness’s account.
infer — draw a conclusion from available clues. infer a motive from the wording.
imply — suggest a meaning without saying it directly. imply that change is possible.
interpret — explain what something means in context. interpret a figure in context.
analyse — examine how parts work together. analyse the writer’s choices.
evaluate — judge the strength, quality or value of something. evaluate the proposal.
plausible — reasonable enough to believe given what is known. a plausible explanation.
credible — worthy of belief or trust. a credible source.
relevant — directly connected to the issue being considered. relevant to the question.
sufficient — enough for the purpose or conclusion at hand. sufficient for a limited trial.
representative — typical enough to reflect a larger group. a representative sample.
anecdote — a brief account of a particular incident. open with an anecdote.
limitation — something that restricts what a method or claim can establish. acknowledge a limitation.
contradict — state or show something incompatible with another claim. contradict the earlier finding.
synthesise — combine ideas from separate sources into a new account. synthesise competing accounts.

Explaining cause and effect

cause — produce or bring about an outcome. cause avoidable delays.
contribute — play a part in bringing about an outcome. contribute to overcrowding.
redlining — discriminatory restriction of credit or services in areas marked as risky, often on racial grounds. explain how redlining affected access to mortgages.
accelerate — make a process happen faster. accelerate the transition.
intensify — make something stronger or more severe. intensify competition.
exacerbate — make an existing problem worse. exacerbate existing inequalities.
mitigate — reduce the severity or harmful effect of something. mitigate the harm.
prevent — stop something from happening. prevent further damage.
deter — discourage someone from taking an action. deter people from taking risks.
enable — make an action possible. enable students to attend.
facilitate — make an action or process easier. facilitate access to training.
reinforce — strengthen an effect, belief or behaviour. reinforce an existing pattern.
undermine — weaken something, often gradually. undermine public trust.
sustain — keep something going over time. sustain the improvement.
displace — push something or someone out of an existing place or role. displace smaller operators.
redistribute — change how something is shared. redistribute public funds.
consequence — an outcome that follows an action or event. an unintended consequence.
mechanism — the process through which an effect occurs. identify the mechanism.
correlation — a pattern in which two things vary together. observe a correlation.
premiss — a proposition offered as a reason for a conclusion. test whether the premiss is true.

Synthesising sources

attribute — identify where an idea or quotation comes from. attribute the statistic to Source A.
cite — identify the source of material used in an argument. cite the survey in Source B.
paraphrase — restate a source’s meaning in your own words and structure. paraphrase the author’s reasoning.
excerpt — a passage taken from a longer work. an excerpt from a public address.
jointly — together rather than separately. the two reasons jointly support the claim.
testimony — a person’s account offered as evidence. testimony from residents.
dataset — an organised collection of data. a dataset on bus ridership.
sample — a subset examined to learn about a larger group. a sample of city schools.
metric — a defined quantity used to measure performance or change. an attendance metric.
variable — a factor that may vary or be deliberately changed. control for a confounding variable.
baseline — a reference point used to judge later differences. measure change against the baseline.
methodology — the overall system of methods used to investigate a question. question the study’s methodology.
outlier — a result far from the others in a set. identify an outlier.
independent — arising separately from the source or factor under discussion. an independent source.
convergence — movement towards agreement or a shared conclusion. convergence between findings.
deductive — involving an inference intended to follow necessarily. a deductive argument with a missing premiss.
complement — add a missing part or strength to something else. complement the survey with testimony.
complicate — show that a simple explanation leaves important things out. complicate the initial conclusion.
reconcile — explain how apparently conflicting claims can fit together. reconcile the two findings.
triangulate — check a claim by comparing different independent sources or methods. triangulate claims across three sources.

Building commentary and argument

commentary — reasoning that explains how evidence supports a claim. develop the commentary after a quotation.
warrant — the reasoning that connects evidence to a claim. explain the warrant for the claim.
grounds — the basis or reasons for holding a position. give grounds for a limited trial.
scope — the range of cases a statement or argument covers. limit the scope of the argument.
elide — leave out or pass over a distinction or detail. elide the difference between choice and constraint.
deduction — reasoning in which a conclusion follows necessarily from its premises. reach the conclusion by deduction.
generalization — a broad statement drawn from specific cases. a generalization from a narrow sample.
analogue — a comparable case with a similar structure or function. an analogue from a neighboring district.
precedent — an earlier case used as a guide for a later one. cite a legal precedent.
exception — a case to which a rule or pattern does not apply. allow for an exception.
criterion — a single standard for judging something. use reliability as one criterion.
condition — a circumstance required for a claim or proposal to hold. state a condition for success.
implication — what follows from a statement even when left unstated. consider the implication for families.
counterexample — a case that shows a general claim does not always hold. offer a counterexample to an absolute claim.
oversimplification — an explanation that drops important complexity. avoid oversimplification.
falsehood — a statement that is untrue. identify a falsehood in a source.
equivocation — a shift between meanings of a term within a line of reasoning. detect equivocation over the meaning of freedom.
contingent — dependent on a named condition. contingent on reliable funding.
tentative — held provisionally pending stronger evidence. a tentative explanation.
defensible — capable of being supported with sound reasons. a defensible thesis.

Exam requirements and worked examples

Choose the right response for each paper

Paper 1 lasts two hours and is worth 60 marks and 40%. Answer two Core questions and one Depth Study question. Each is a structured essay with three parts. Use the command and marks to decide whether to identify details, explain reasons or develop a supported judgement.

Paper 2 lasts one hour 45 minutes and is worth 40 marks and 30%. It uses sources on the prescribed Core topic. Check the series and your Core option in the syllabus. The remaining 30% comes from coursework or the one-hour Paper 4, both worth 40 marks. Coursework is one extended piece of writing. Paper 4 has one structured depth-study question divided into two parts.

Official specifications and sources

Worked reasoning about collective security

Try this original practice question. How far did disagreement among major powers limit the effectiveness of collective security? Start by deciding what effectiveness means. Did members respond in time, impose a meaningful cost or deter later aggression? The questions are connected, but evidence for one may say little about the others.

Suppose a group of governments agrees to condemn an attack while disagreeing over restrictions on trade. A statement of condemnation can show that the attack drew international criticism. If trade continues through major suppliers, the condemnation may have less practical effect. Explain the mechanism from disagreement to the design of the response and from the design to its likely effect.

Extend the answer using a studied case. Identify which powers had to act, what was agreed and which measures were actually used. Compare that explanation with a second factor, such as the structure of the organisation or the aggressor’s aims. Reach a judgement about which factor best explains the outcome. Use facts from the relevant crisis to support each side.

For a named example, use the League response to Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia in 1935. U.S. diplomatic records show that the United States declined to join the League’s sanctions. A December 1935 debate in the House of Lords also raised the question of whether suppliers outside the League might keep providing fuel. Together these details help explain why cooperation beyond formal League membership could matter. They establish a difficulty for enforcement. Assessing the effect on the campaign would also require evidence about Italy’s supplies and military position.

Fencing Method for a source term

Start with The sources contradict each other. Add detail. One source claims the restrictions were widely followed while the other describes continued trade. Refine the tone. The accounts conflict on the extent of compliance. Add logic. If they refer to different goods or dates, some of the disagreement may disappear once their scope is matched. Transfer the technique to a pair of sources about an election or a protest.

Practise surprise in the same way. Start with an expectation based on what the author knew or wanted at the time. Identify the feature that departs from that expectation. Explain whether cross-reference or relevant context makes the feature more or less surprising. State which detail matters instead of relying on a vague reaction.

Read a source for message and purpose

Choose a practice cartoon. Record two visible details, then state what larger message the combination conveys. If asked about purpose, give a plausible intended effect on the audience. A cartoon may present a policy as ineffective and seek to turn public opinion against it. Support your inference with something in the image and with relevant contextual knowledge.

Compare that with a written source from the same period. Both sources can communicate approval or criticism, but they may use different techniques and target different audiences. Test agreement on a named issue. One source may criticise the decision, while the other criticises its timing. Explaining the distinction makes the comparison useful.

Plan the depth-study judgement

Write a one-sentence answer, then place two competing explanations beneath it. Give each a named event or process and explain how it supports the claim. Look for a condition that limits the force of each explanation. If your second reason only repeats the first with another example, choose a different mechanism.

For coursework, use the title and requirements approved through your centre. For Paper 4, practise the two parts with specimen materials for the correct syllabus year. In both cases, use a judgement that follows from the evidence you actually selected. Specify whether your answer is about the extent of change, the relative weight of causes or another criterion set by the question.

Frequently asked questions

Can a biased source be useful? Yes. Its value depends on the enquiry. A persuasive speech may show how a policy was presented to an audience. Does every part require a full essay? Use the command word and mark value for each part. How should I compare two sources? Compare what each says about the same claim and explain the significance of any agreement or difference.

Try an evidence check before you finish

Underline the historical claim in a practice paragraph. Circle the evidence and mark the sentence that connects the two. If the evidence only establishes that something happened earlier, explain why the timing matters. If it comes from a source written to persuade, explain how that purpose affects the claim you can make. Revise the conclusion to match the strongest supported inference.

Develop a structured explanation in layers

Take one cause from a topic you have studied. In your first sentence name it and give the relevant detail. In the second, explain what changed for the people or governments involved. In the third, connect that change to the outcome in the question. The middle step matters. An agreement can create pressure on a government because it affects access to resources, changes expectations about help or increases the cost of delaying a decision.

Now compare your explanation with one based on a different cause. Give both causes the same outcome to explain. If one helps explain why a decision became possible and the other explains why it was taken on a particular date, say so. Compare the roles instead of counting the facts on each side. This approach helps you explain why one cause is more persuasive under the criterion you choose.

Use documents to test a claim

Make two columns for evidence that supports a claim and evidence that challenges it. Place each source according to what it actually says about that claim. Where a source is mixed, identify the part that supports each reading. Add a short note on context, authorship or corroboration where it changes the weight you give the evidence.

Finish with a judgement about how far the supplied evidence supports the claim. Decide which agreement or disagreement is most consequential and why. If the source refers to just one event, avoid using it to establish a much broader pattern without further evidence.

Top 200 Vocabulary Word List for Cambridge IGCSE History (0470) | Essay Writing