2025 OCR GCSE History B (Schools History Project) J411/31;
Viking Expansion, c.750–c.1050 with The First Crusade, c.1070–
1100
Complete Question paper with Marking Scheme Combined
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Tuesday 10 June 2025 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) History B (Schools History Project)
J411/31 Viking Expansion, c.750–c.1050 with The First
Crusade, c.1070–1100
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
You must have:
the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must be
clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Section A – Viking Expansion, c.750–c.1050: Answer Questions 1 (a–c), 2, 3 and either
Question 4 or Question 5.
• Section B – The First Crusade, c.1070–1100: Answer Questions 6 and 7, and either
Question 8 or Question 9.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer
, 2
Section A
Viking Expansion, c.750–c.1050
Answer Questions 1 (a–c), 2 and 3.
1
(a) Give one example of a religious belief held by Vikings. [1]
(b) Name one ruler of the Viking Rus in Novgorod or Kiev between 860 and 1050. [1]
(c) Name one change Harald Bluetooth made during his rule. [1]
2 Write a clear and organised summary that analyses Viking settlement across the Atlantic (Iceland,
Greenland, North America).
Support your summary with examples. [9]
3 Why were Viking raids on Britain, Ireland and the Scottish Islands between 793 and 850 so
successful?
Explain your answer. [10]
Answer Question 4 or Question 5.
4* ‘The Volga Vikings were more successful than the Vikings who settled in the British Isles and France.’
How far do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer. [18]
5* ‘Cnut’s greatest achievement was the conquest of England.’ How
far do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer. [18]
© OCR J411/31
2025 Jun25
, 3
Section B
The First Crusade, c.1070–1100
Answer Questions 6 and 7.
6 What can Source A tell us about the First Crusade?
Use the source and your own knowledge to support your answer. [7]
Source A
An extract from ‘On the Opening of the First Crusade’ by Ekkehard of Aurach. Ekkehard was a monk and a
strong supporter of the papacy.
Ekkehard completed an earlier version of this source in c.1100. However, in 1101 he went on a crusade
himself and visited Jerusalem. On his return, he went back over his work and rewrote it before publishing
this version.
I am very anxious to add in certain details about this crusade [the First Crusade],
and I especially want to say that this military expedition was due to God’s
inspiration.
Pope Urban II encouraged men to take part by promising to forgive the sins of
those men who undertook the expedition with single-hearted devotion. Nearly
100 000 men from various Christian lands answered this call to enter the service
of God.
It was truly an army of ‘crusaders’, for they wore the sign of the cross on their
clothes as a reminder that they were doing everything for God and in the hope
that they would triumph over the enemies of Christ. In this way, through Pope
Urban II’s call and promises, all these men, so different in speech, origin, and
© OCR J411/31 Turn over
2025 Jun25
, 4
7 How useful are Sources B and C and Interpretation D for a historian studying the Byzantine Empire in
the period before the First Crusade (c.1070–1095)?
In your answer, refer to the two sources and the interpretation as well as your own knowledge.
[15]
Source B
A description of the Byzantine capital city of Constantinople, written in the late 1000s. The writer was from
Western Europe and was probably in the city to learn the Greek language.
Constantinople is the capital of the Byzantine Empire and the most impressive city
in the whole world. It is said that a third of the gold and silver in the world is there.
When I arrived and looked around me, I was staggered by the wonderful vision of
so many amazing things: countless churches decorated inside with gold; marble
palaces roofed with lead; and statues of animals of every kind, wonderfully and
skilfully made from stone or metal.
There are many thousands of men dressed in clothes made entirely of silk and
also many people of different religions and languages.
This noble city is believed to house more holy sites linked with our Lord Jesus
Christ than anywhere else in the world, and it is thus more wondrous than all
Source C
An extract from historical records written in the city of Bari in southern Italy. The
Normans controlled Bari when this source was written around 1100.
Robert Guiscard was a Norman knight. The island of Corfu and the city of Durres
were both part of the Byzantine Empire at this time. Durres is a city on the mainland
north of Greece.
And in the year of 1081, Duke Robert Guiscard sent ships to the island of Corfu,
and captured it. And in the month of July, Duke Robert laid siege to the city of
Durres, both by land and by sea.
Emperor Alexios gathered a large army to defend the city and began a battle
with Duke Robert. The Emperor had more than 70 000 men in his army, but over
6000 of these men fell in battle, and he was forced to turn and flee. And in the
month of January, 1082, Duke Robert took the city of Durres.
© OCR J411/31
2025 Jun25
Viking Expansion, c.750–c.1050 with The First Crusade, c.1070–
1100
Complete Question paper with Marking Scheme Combined
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Tuesday 10 June 2025 – Afternoon
GCSE (9–1) History B (Schools History Project)
J411/31 Viking Expansion, c.750–c.1050 with The First
Crusade, c.1070–1100
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
You must have:
the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must be
clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Section A – Viking Expansion, c.750–c.1050: Answer Questions 1 (a–c), 2, 3 and either
Question 4 or Question 5.
• Section B – The First Crusade, c.1070–1100: Answer Questions 6 and 7, and either
Question 8 or Question 9.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer
, 2
Section A
Viking Expansion, c.750–c.1050
Answer Questions 1 (a–c), 2 and 3.
1
(a) Give one example of a religious belief held by Vikings. [1]
(b) Name one ruler of the Viking Rus in Novgorod or Kiev between 860 and 1050. [1]
(c) Name one change Harald Bluetooth made during his rule. [1]
2 Write a clear and organised summary that analyses Viking settlement across the Atlantic (Iceland,
Greenland, North America).
Support your summary with examples. [9]
3 Why were Viking raids on Britain, Ireland and the Scottish Islands between 793 and 850 so
successful?
Explain your answer. [10]
Answer Question 4 or Question 5.
4* ‘The Volga Vikings were more successful than the Vikings who settled in the British Isles and France.’
How far do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer. [18]
5* ‘Cnut’s greatest achievement was the conquest of England.’ How
far do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer. [18]
© OCR J411/31
2025 Jun25
, 3
Section B
The First Crusade, c.1070–1100
Answer Questions 6 and 7.
6 What can Source A tell us about the First Crusade?
Use the source and your own knowledge to support your answer. [7]
Source A
An extract from ‘On the Opening of the First Crusade’ by Ekkehard of Aurach. Ekkehard was a monk and a
strong supporter of the papacy.
Ekkehard completed an earlier version of this source in c.1100. However, in 1101 he went on a crusade
himself and visited Jerusalem. On his return, he went back over his work and rewrote it before publishing
this version.
I am very anxious to add in certain details about this crusade [the First Crusade],
and I especially want to say that this military expedition was due to God’s
inspiration.
Pope Urban II encouraged men to take part by promising to forgive the sins of
those men who undertook the expedition with single-hearted devotion. Nearly
100 000 men from various Christian lands answered this call to enter the service
of God.
It was truly an army of ‘crusaders’, for they wore the sign of the cross on their
clothes as a reminder that they were doing everything for God and in the hope
that they would triumph over the enemies of Christ. In this way, through Pope
Urban II’s call and promises, all these men, so different in speech, origin, and
© OCR J411/31 Turn over
2025 Jun25
, 4
7 How useful are Sources B and C and Interpretation D for a historian studying the Byzantine Empire in
the period before the First Crusade (c.1070–1095)?
In your answer, refer to the two sources and the interpretation as well as your own knowledge.
[15]
Source B
A description of the Byzantine capital city of Constantinople, written in the late 1000s. The writer was from
Western Europe and was probably in the city to learn the Greek language.
Constantinople is the capital of the Byzantine Empire and the most impressive city
in the whole world. It is said that a third of the gold and silver in the world is there.
When I arrived and looked around me, I was staggered by the wonderful vision of
so many amazing things: countless churches decorated inside with gold; marble
palaces roofed with lead; and statues of animals of every kind, wonderfully and
skilfully made from stone or metal.
There are many thousands of men dressed in clothes made entirely of silk and
also many people of different religions and languages.
This noble city is believed to house more holy sites linked with our Lord Jesus
Christ than anywhere else in the world, and it is thus more wondrous than all
Source C
An extract from historical records written in the city of Bari in southern Italy. The
Normans controlled Bari when this source was written around 1100.
Robert Guiscard was a Norman knight. The island of Corfu and the city of Durres
were both part of the Byzantine Empire at this time. Durres is a city on the mainland
north of Greece.
And in the year of 1081, Duke Robert Guiscard sent ships to the island of Corfu,
and captured it. And in the month of July, Duke Robert laid siege to the city of
Durres, both by land and by sea.
Emperor Alexios gathered a large army to defend the city and began a battle
with Duke Robert. The Emperor had more than 70 000 men in his army, but over
6000 of these men fell in battle, and he was forced to turn and flee. And in the
month of January, 1082, Duke Robert took the city of Durres.
© OCR J411/31
2025 Jun25
