With reference to two societies, evaluate the factors that were most effective in the transmission of ideas and cultures.

Candidates will make an appraisal of a range of factors in terms of their effectiveness in transmitting ideas and cultures in or between two societies. In their responses, candidates will refer to specific factors, which may include force, trade, transportation, exploration and/or the spread of religious beliefs. While the focus of the response must be within the timeframe of this topic, the two societies do not need to be contemporaneous with each other. Further, those two societies may or may not be drawn from separate regions. Candidates may elect to deal with the question thematically, for example identifying specific factors and comparing how they affected the chosen societies. They may also attempt to rank the factors, outlining why some were more significant than others. Alternatively, candidates may choose to address the two societies separately and evaluate the factors that were specific to each.