Date | May 2022 | Marks available | 15 | Reference code | 22M.3op1.HL.TZ0.4 |
Level | Higher level only | Paper | Paper 3 (History of Africa and the Middle East) | Time zone | TZ0 |
Command term | To what extent | Question number | 4 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Section 2: The Fatimids (909–1171)
“Fatimid ideology had limited impact on the Muslim world.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Markscheme
The question requires that candidates consider the merits or otherwise of the statement that Fatimid ideology had limited impact on the Muslim world. Causes/reasons may predate the timeframe but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may refer to the short duration of the Fatimid period, the increasing power of the Sunni approach to Islam, which limited the spread of their influence as did their defeats by the Crusaders and Saladin. Internal disputes with other Shi’a groups and their internal divisions limited their ability to expand their influence. Candidates may note that they had considerable influence in the arts, architecture and intellectual pursuits through their founding of the first university. Commercial networks and missionary networks expanded into Asia which helped spread their version of Islam to new regions. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.