If students choose to study A Level History, they will have the opportunity to study units examining two very different periods of time. This option allows students to study a breadth of issues focusing on: continuity, cause and consequence. The course focuses on three units. Component 1: The Tudors through the following key questions: • How effectively did the Tudors restore and develop the powers of the monarchy? • In what ways and how effectively was England governed during this period? Component 2: The Cold War, c1945–1991. This section of the course provides for the in depth study of international relations during an era of tension between communist and capitalist powers which threatened nuclear Armageddon. It explores concepts such as communism and anticommunism, aggression and détente and also encourages students to reflect on the power of modern military technology, what hastens confrontation and what forces promote peace in the modern world. Component 3: Students must also complete a historical investigation, which must be independently researched and written by the student, take the form of a question in the context of approximately 100 years and be presented in the form of a piece of extended writing of between 3000 and 3500 words in length.