AQA A-Level History AS Component 1 (1A), June 2025: Question 3

03 ‘In the years 1127 to 1144, Zengi used ideas of jihad to unite the Muslim world.’

Explain why you agree or disagree with this view.

[25 marks]

Target: AO1

Demonstrate, organise and communicate knowledge and understanding to analyse and evaluate

the key features related to the periods studied, making substantiated judgements and exploring

concepts, as relevant, of cause, consequence, change, continuity, similarity, difference and

significance.

Generic Mark Scheme

L5: Answers will display a good understanding of the demands of the question. They will be

well-organised and effectively communicated. There will be a range of clear and specific

supporting information showing a good understanding of key features and issues, together with

some conceptual awareness. The answer will be analytical in style with a range of direct

comment leading to substantiated judgement. 21–25

L4: Answers will show an understanding of the question and will supply a range of largely accurate

information which will show an awareness of some of the key issues and features. The answer

will be effectively organised and show adequate communication skills. There will be analytical

comment in relation to the question and the answer will display some balance. However, there

may be some generalisation and judgements will be limited and only partially substantiated.

16–20

L3: The answer will show some understanding of the full demands of the question and the answer

will be adequately organised. There will be appropriate information showing an understanding of

some key features and/or issues but the answer may be limited in scope and/or contain

inaccuracy and irrelevance. There will be some comment in relation to the question. 11–15

L2: The answer will be descriptive or partial, showing some awareness of the question but a failure to

grasp its full demands. There will be some attempt to convey material in an organised way

although communication skills may be limited. There will be some appropriate information

showing understanding of some key features and/or issues, but the answer may be very limited in

scope and/or contain inaccuracy and irrelevance. There will be some, but limited, comment in

relation to the question and statements will, for the most part, be unsupported and generalist.

6–10

L1: The question has not been properly understood and the response shows limited organisational

and communication skills. The information conveyed is irrelevant or extremely limited. There

may be some unsupported, vague or generalist comment.– AS HISTORY – 7041/1A – 1–5

Nothing worthy of credit. 0

Indicative content

Note: This content is not prescriptive and students are not obliged to refer to the material

contained in this mark scheme. Any legitimate answer will be assessed on its merits according

to the generic levels scheme.

Arguments supporting the view that in the years 1127 to 1144, Zengi used ideas of jihad to unite

the Muslim world might include:

• Zengi promoted ideas of jihad against the Christian invaders to unite Muslims against them and was

recognised as the champion of Islam by the Caliph of Baghdad for his capture of Edessa in 1144 9

• Zengi built a series of madrasas and khanqahs to spread the idea of jihad and create a new

generation of warriors for the jihad

• Zengi’s religious policy was so successful that his son, Nureddin, continued it after Zengi’s death in

1146.

Arguments challenging the view that in the years 1127 to 1144, Zengi used ideas of jihad to unite

the Muslim world might include:

• Zengi fought against his co-religionists more than he fought against the Christians, for example, his

multiple attempts to seize Damascus from Unur

• Zengi used terror to unite his troops more than ideas of jihad, for example, his alleged beheading of

troops that could not march in a straight line. His use of terror led to his own assassination

• Zengi was not effective in uniting the Muslim world, Muslims still made alliances with Christian powers,

eg Damascus and Jerusalem.

The question allows students to decide whether it was Zengi’s promotion of jihad as a deliberate tactic to

unite the Muslim East or whether it was his success as a military leader and the fear this inspired that

was the key factor in uniting the Muslim world. Alternatively, students might seek to debate the extent to

which Zengi united the Muslim world. Any valid approach will be rewarded using the generic levels and

students could consider a mix of approaches.