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Year 8

Past and present causes of inequality

I can explain how historical and present-day human factors have created and reinforced inequalities.

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Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 8

Past and present causes of inequality

I can explain how historical and present-day human factors have created and reinforced inequalities.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Colonialism was a system where powerful countries controlled others for power, land and resources.
  2. Colonialism shaped modern trade and wealth gaps.
  3. Debt and global trade rules reinforce global inequality.
  4. Technology gaps limit opportunities in poor nations.
  5. Historical inequalities still impact development today.

Keywords

  • Colonialism - a system where powerful countries control others for power, land, and resources

  • Debt - money that is borrowed and must be paid back

  • Imports - goods or services that a country buys from other countries

  • Exports - goods or services that a country sells to other countries

Common misconception

Historical factors no longer impact on global inequality around the world.

There is an enduring impact of history on global inequality. Historical factors have shaped wealth, opportunities, and power today.


To help you plan your year 8 geography lesson on: Past and present causes of inequality, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

This lesson deals with the difficult subject matter associated with colonialism and slavery. It is worth liaising with your school’s History department to speak about where these topics fit into their curriculum.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
How can physical geography impact a country's development?
It has no impact on development.
Correct answer: It can affect resources, trade, and agriculture.
Only climate matters for development.
Countries with mountains are always richer.
Q2.
What does ‘quality of life’ refer to?
The number of people living in a country
How much money a country has
Correct answer: The overall well-being and standard of living of people
Q3.
What is development?
The size of a country’s population
The number of jobs in a country
Correct answer: Improvements in living standards, economy, and infrastructure
Q4.
How can inequality impact development?
Correct answer: It can slow down progress by limiting opportunities for many people.
It helps all people in a country equally.
It has no effect on development.
It makes all countries richer.
Q5.
Which factor is a key measure of a country’s wealth?
The number of tourists visiting each year
The number of sports stadiums
Correct answer: Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
The number of rivers in the country
Q6.
How can economic growth help improve quality of life?
Correct answer: It can lead to better jobs, healthcare, and education.
It always makes everyone equally wealthy.
It has no impact on people’s lives.
It only benefits businesses.

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
How can physical geography contribute to inequality?
Geography has no impact on inequality.
Correct answer: Access to resources and climate can affect development.
All land is equally useful for farming and trade.
Only technology determines inequality.
Q2.
Do historical factors still impact global inequality today?
No, past events no longer affect modern economies.
Yes, but only in a few countries.
Correct answer: Yes, colonialism, slavery, and past trade patterns still shape inequality.
No, all countries have had the same opportunities to develop.
Q3.
Colonialism is where…
countries agree to share resources equally.
a country isolates itself from the rest of the world.
Correct answer: one country takes control over another, often exploiting its resources & people.
trade happens between two equal partners.
Q4.
How can governments help reduce inequality?
Correct answer: Investing in education, healthcare, and fair wages
Ignoring the needs of poorer communities
Keeping wages low and limiting opportunities