Evaluate the impact of population change on two societies, each from a different region.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the impact of population growth, weighing up its importance or otherwise. The two societies must be from different regions. Impact may extend beyond the timeframe of the question, but it must be clearly linked to the issue raised. Candidates may offer equal coverage of the two societies or they may prioritize discussion of one of them. However, both societies will be a feature of the response. Candidates may argue that population growth stimulated agricultural efficiency, for example improved axes and ploughs in Europe, and economic growth, in places such as Song China, by generating larger markets for goods and providing cheap labour. In some areas, urban (for example the Flemish towns) and long-distance migration (for example Bantu expansion) resulted. There may be evaluation of the social and economic impact of the Black Death, in the long and short term. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates make an appraisal of the impact of population change, weighing up its importance or otherwise. There were very few responses seen.