Why Did It Happen?
In history, every event has a cause and an effect. The cause is the reason why something happened. The effect is the result, which is what happened because of it. Understanding both helps us see how events are connected.
Cause Comes First
A cause always happens before the effect. For example:
- Cause: Melaka had a safe harbour and a good location on a busy sea route.
- Effect: Melaka grew into a rich and famous trading port.
Key idea
Cause = the reason (why). Effect = the result (what happened). Cause comes before effect.
A Chain of Events
One event can have many causes, and one effect can become the cause of the next event, like links in a chain. When we ask "why did this happen?" and "what happened next?", we begin to think like a historian. Learning about cause and effect helps us understand the past and make wiser choices in the future.
Remember
- Cause = why it happened.
- Effect = the result.
- Cause always comes before the effect.