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Watchmen - GCSE History Definition

Reviewed by: Zoe Wade

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In the context of GCSE History, watchmen refers to the individuals who were responsible for keeping the peace and maintaining order in communities during the Middle Ages and later periods. Before modern police forces were established, watchmen served as night-time guards in towns and cities. They would patrol the streets, call out the time, and alert residents to dangers such as fires or thieves. Equipped with basic tools like lanterns and sticks, watchmen played an essential role in early law enforcement, ensuring that communities were safe and secure while people slept.

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Zoe Wade

Reviewer: Zoe Wade

Expertise: History Content Creator

Zoe has worked in education for 10 years as a teaching assistant and a teacher. This has given her an in-depth perspective on how to support all learners to achieve to the best of their ability. She has been the Lead of Key Stage 4 History, showing her expertise in the Edexcel GCSE syllabus and how best to revise. Ever since she was a child, Zoe has been passionate about history. She believes now, more than ever, the study of history is vital to explaining the ever-changing world around us. Zoe’s focus is to create accessible content that breaks down key historical concepts and themes to achieve GCSE success.

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