With reference to two colonial empires, evaluate the role of competitions and conflict during the colonial race.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the role of competition and conflict during the colonial race. The two colonial empires may or may not be from the same region and they may or may not have been contemporaneous. Candidates may offer equal coverage of the two colonial empires, or they may emphasize their discussion of one of them; however, both aspects will be a feature of the response. A comparative approach may or may not be used. Candidates may refer to the competition over areas to be conquered and the conflicts over the delineation of the territories, for example the conflicts between Spain and Portugal in South America. They may refer to conflicts, for example the Chinese response after the Portuguese conquest of Malacca, or to wars, for example the Anglo–Spanish War or the Burmese–Siamese War. Both importance and limitations must be clearly indicated but there does not need to be an equal focus on each.

The question required candidates to make an appraisal of the role of competition and conflict during the colonial race.