| Date | May 2021 | Marks available | 3 | Reference code | 21M.1.BP.TZ0.5 |
| Level | Both SL and HL | Paper | Paper 1 - first exams 2017 | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | What | Question number | 5 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Source E R. Hassig, an American anthropologist specializing in Aztec history, writing in the academic book Mexico and the Spanish Conquest (2006).
Spain’s expansion was part of a general European pattern that emerged after the economic and social crisis following the massive depopulation in the fourteenth century. But Europe also felt threatened by Muslims to the south and Ottoman Turks to the east, and much of its expansion—made possible by naval technological advances—was dictated ideologically and guided geographically by these concerns. Along with other Europeans, Spaniards ventured into foreign lands, driven by the zealotry [fanaticism] of the Church but also encouraged by the lure [appeal] of greater trade, new territory, and subject [conquered] population. Thus, when Spaniards moved into the Americas, they brought with them the powerful legacy of their expansionary experience, which was to influence their relations with the Indians. The men who reached Mexico had already participated in the earliest Spanish exploration of what was to them the New World, and they built on their experiences of conquering and colonizing Arab Spain and the Canary Islands. Spanish expansion beyond Iberia was primarily economic in motivation …
Religious justifications marked much of the expansion into Mexico, as it had the Reconquista. The Spaniards used essentially the same ideology in the conquest of native populations as they had against the Muslims during the Reconquista. The conquest of Mexico, however, was primarily a political and military affair.
[Source: Republished with permission of UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PRESS, from Mexico and the Spanish Conquest, Ross Hassig, 2006; permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.]
Source F Diego Rivera, a Mexican artist, depicts the historical scene titled The arrival of Cortés (Palacio Nacional de México, 1951).
[Source: Rivera, D., 1951. The arrival of Cortés. Images & Stories / Alamy Stock Photo.]
What, according to Source E, were the causes of the Spanish expansion?
What does Source F suggest about the actions of the Spanish conquerors towards the indigenous population?
Markscheme
- The Spanish expansion was part of a general European pattern after the depopulation of Europe in the 14th century.
- The threatening presence of Muslims and Turks also urged the expansion.
- Spaniards were driven by the zealotry of the Church.
- Spaniards were looking for trade, territories and populations to submit.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. It is neither prescriptive nor exhaustive and no set answer is required. Award [1] for each relevant point up to a maximum of [3].
- They took the goods of the vanquished communities (livestock, precious metals [note: silver was important in Mexico]).
- They forced the indigenous population to work for them.
- They used military force to control the population.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. It is neither prescriptive nor exhaustive and no set answer is required. Award [1] for each relevant point up to a maximum of [2].
Examiners report
Most candidates were able to identify three distinct points for the given source in each of the prescribed topics, and there were a number of valid points that could be drawn. Nevertheless, some candidates offered only two points and there were again a few that made only one limited point. In a small minority of responses there was a lack of focus on the question and extensive background or contextual material was given.
As with the first part of this question, many candidates were awarded full marks as they offered two valid points in response to what the visual source revealed. For example, for 9b) that the foreign policies of Italy and Germany were similar and that these were aggressive. In 13b) many candidates suggested that the cartoon revealed that the struggle for civil rights faced violence and that law enforcement took part in brutal attacks. However, some candidates offered just one overall point.
