“Changes in travel and transportation had little impact.” Discuss, with reference to two societies.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that changes in travel and transportation had little impact. The two societies may or may not come from the same region. Impact may extend beyond the timeframe, but it must be clearly linked to the issue raised by the question. Candidates may offer equal treatment of travel and transportation, or they may prioritize their discussion of one of them. However, both aspects will be a feature of the question. There may be discussion of the impact of increasing European river transport which helped to link growing urban centres; the increasing use of junks in the Far East, and the sophisticated maritime culture of the Chinchas in Peru, all of which boosted trade; the increasing exploitation of camels’ endurance opened up trans-Saharan markets. It may be argued that limited technological change restricted impact, which was less than in subsequent eras. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that changes in travel and transportation had little impact. Of the few responses seen, most consisted of little more than general comments on travel and transportation, mostly in the twentieth century.