IGCSE History Online Course CIE

Core Content

The Twentieth Century: International Relations Since 1919 module for IGCSE History is all about the dramatic events that shaped our modern world. It’s not just about dates and names; it’s about understanding the big picture—the rivalries, the fragile peace treaties, and the monumental conflicts that defined an era.

The Aftermath of World War I

It all starts with the end of the “war to end all wars.”.

Put on your detective hat to investigate whether

• The Treaty of Versailles was a fair peace settlement or a recipe for disaster.
• Was it a harsh punishment that pushed Germany to the brink, or was it a justified response?
• Learn about the ambitious but flawed League of Nations, created to prevent another global conflict.

The Road to World War II

This part of the module is like a suspenseful movie.

• Trace the terrifying rise of dictators like Adolf Hitler and analyse his aggressive foreign policy.
• Examine the policy of appeasement and debate its effectiveness.
• Was British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain a hero trying to avoid war or a naïve leader who made things worse?
• Explore other crucial events, such as the Nazi-Soviet Pact, that sealed the fate of Europe and led directly to the outbreak of the Second World War.

The Cold War: A World Divided

After World War II, the world wasn’t a peaceful place for long. Instead, a new kind of conflict emerged: the Cold War.

• Study the ideological clash between the capitalist USA and the communist USSR. This wasn’t a hot war with battles and bombs but a tense, global standoff.
• Learn about the Berlin Airlift, the Cuban Missile Crisis (the closest the world ever came to nuclear war), and the devastating conflicts in Korea and Vietnam—all part of the USA’s mission to contain the spread of communism.

The Fall of the Soviet Empire

Finally, you’ll witness the slow but sure unravelling of the Soviet Union’s control over Eastern Europe.

• Study how movements like Solidarity in Poland challenged Soviet power from within.
• This section culminates in the dramatic collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989—a symbolic end to the Cold War and a moment that changed the world forever.

This module is your ticket to understanding how we got from the shaky peace of 1919 to the modern world we live in today. It’s a journey through the triumphs and tragedies that shaped the international landscape for decades to come.

Depth Studies

Prepare to time-travel to two of the most turbulent and fascinating periods in modern history! The Depth Studies for CIE History IGCSE are not just about memorising facts; they’re about diving deep into a specific time and place to understand how societies were transformed forever.

The United States, 1919–41: The American Dream and Its Dark Side

This module tells the dramatic story of America between the world wars. You’ll witness a nation on a roller coaster of change, from the dazzling “Roaring Twenties” to the devastating Great Depression.

The Roaring Twenties: Explore the jazz age, the birth of a consumer society fueled by new technologies like the radio and the automobile, and the changing roles of women. You’ll also confront the darker side of this era, including widespread intolerance—the revival of the Ku Klux Klan, anti-immigrant sentiment, and the controversial experiment of Prohibition that gave rise to organised crime and gangsters like Al Capone.

The Great Depression and the New Deal: The party came to a crashing halt in 1929 with the Wall Street Crash. You’ll analyse the causes and consequences of this economic catastrophe that plunged millions into poverty. The second half of this study focuses on the heroic figure of Franklin D. Roosevelt and his radical New Deal. Was his massive government intervention a success that saved America from ruin, or was it a flawed program that failed to solve the fundamental problems of the Depression?

Germany, 1918–45: The Rise and Fall of a Dictatorship

This is one of the most powerful and chilling stories in modern history. You’ll follow Germany’s journey from a fragile democracy to a brutal totalitarian state.

The Fragile Weimar Republic: Begin by exploring Germany after its humiliating defeat in World War I. You’ll learn about the creation of the Weimar Republic, a democratic government that was immediately crippled by the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles and political violence. Was this republic doomed from the start? You’ll also study the “Golden Age” of the 1920s, a brief period of cultural and economic recovery before the storm.

The Nazi Takeover: This section is a gripping account of how the Nazi Party, a fringe political group, gained power. You’ll investigate Hitler’s rise to power and the key events—like the Great Depression and the Reichstag Fire—that he exploited. You’ll also see how Hitler ruthlessly eliminated his opposition and created a one-party state by 1934.

Life in Nazi Germany: Finally, you’ll uncover the chilling reality of life under Nazi rule. You’ll study the methods of control and terror used by the Nazis, including propaganda, the SS, and the Gestapo. You’ll also learn about the persecution of minorities and the devastating impact of Nazi policies on ordinary Germans. This is a crucial and sobering look at the true nature of a totalitarian regime.