AQA
A-level
HISTORY
7042/1B
Component 1B Spain in the Age of Discovery, 1469–1598
Version: 1.0 Final
IB/M/Jun23/E5
... [Show More] 7042/1B
A-level
HISTORY
Component 1B Spain in the Age of Discovery, 1469–1598
Wednesday 24 May 2023 Morning Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7042/1B.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
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IB/M/Jun23/7042/1B
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Extract A
Early in his reign, Philip II pursued limited, defensive policies. Even these entailed
multiple commitments in the Netherlands and Mediterranean, leading to a state
bankruptcy in 1575. Nevertheless, by 1580 he had maintained peace with France and
England, had stemmed the Turkish tide, and had conquered Portugal. Even in the
Netherlands, things were starting to improve. After this, though, Philip’s foreign policy
became more aggressive.
Legitimate or not, Philip’s acquisition of Portugal in 1580 alarmed other European
powers. He failed to appreciate how threatened his neighbours felt by further expansion
of the already immense Spanish Empire. His aggressive policy towards England and
intervention in France made the risk of war in Europe more likely. Yet to the end Philip
did not see himself as an aggressor. He was increasingly dominated by a belief that he
was engaged upon God’s work and that God would bless his endeavours. Towards the
end of his life, Philip’s fixed ideas led him to take on commitments that good sense would
have advised against.
Adapted from D McKinnon-Bell, Philip II, 2001
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Extract B
Philip II’s foreign policy was driven by multiple considerations. Religion, for example,
was a strong element of his reasoning. Catholicism needed to be defended against not
just Protestantism, but the threat of Islam. Defence against both was as fundamental to
Philip’s policies as they had been to his father’s.
Apart from defence of religion, Philip’s main aim in ruling his empire was to retain control
of all his territories. He was determined to safeguard the interests of his family, his
dynasty, and to hand on, undiminished, his inheritance. The Netherlands were
particularly vulnerable. To protect the Netherlands, Philip had to protect the sea routes
which linked them with Spain. This meant that Philip had to ensure good relations with
those rulers through which the sea routes passed. Philip’s need for finance also meant
that particular care had to be taken to ensure that the treasure fleets from America were
able to cross the Atlantic safely.
Adapted from J Kilsby, Spain, Rise and Decline, 1474–1643, 1989
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IB/M/Jun23/7042/1B Turn over ►
Extract C
The acquisition of Portugal had profound political and psychological importance for
Philip II. The acquisition led him to bring about a dramatic rescheduling of his priorities in
foreign affairs. In the crucial years 1580–83, the conquests of Portugal and of its Atlantic
islands of the Azores took precedence for Philip over affairs in Northern Europe. It was
perceptively remarked of Philip that he would ‘rather surrender Flanders than Portugal’,
and so it proved. Philip was now the master of two global empires and there seemed to
be no limits to his power. To both his friends and enemies that power seemed to be
unchallengeable. More importantly, it seemed to be so to Philip himself; from 1583 he
undertook one gamble in foreign affairs after another, each more risky than the next.
The second half of his reign saw the King, who had previously been prudent, now
gambling and failing – on the grandest of scales.
Adapted from P Williams, Philip II, 2001
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0 1 Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the
arguments in these three extracts are in relation to Philip II’s foreign policy.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
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Section B
Answer two questions.
0 2 ‘In the years 1478 to 1516, the Spanish Crown successfully achieved control over
Spanish society.’
Assess the validity of this view.
[25 marks]
0 3 ‘By 1556, the domestic policies of Charles V’s government had greatly strengthened
the Spanish Crown.’
Assess the validity of this view [Show Less]