Historical causes and consequences explained

• Causes that occurred only a few hours, days or weeks before the event are called 'Short Term Causes'
• Causes that existed for years, decades or centuries before the event are called 'Long Term Causes' 

Just because something occurred before the event does not mean it caused it. A cause is something that is directly related to the event.

Another way of thinking about it is to say that the later event would not have occurred if the earlier one had not happened.

Not all causes that lead to a particular historical event are as equally influential as each other.

Some causes are more significant than others.

Watch a video explanation on the History Skills YouTube channel:

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• Why did the event under examination occur?

• What earlier events were central to the occurrence of the event under examination?

• What motivated the people who were involved in this event?
• What were the economic, political, military or social reasons that led to this event?

Such consequences can include impacts upon people, societies, beliefs or any other facet of history.

• Consequences that occurred only a few hours, days or weeks after the event are called 'Short Term Consequences'
• Consequences that occurred years, decades or centuries after the event are called 'Long Term Consequences'

Additional Information:

The more you study history, the more you realise that consequences also become causes for other events.

• What later events were the direct result of the event under examination?

• What changed in society as a result of the past event?
• What were the economic, political, military or social changes which resulted from this event?