Circulation - GCSE History Definition

In GCSE History, circulation means how things like ideas, information, or goods are shared and spread between people or places. For example, when pamphlets or newspapers were printed and passed around, they helped spread new ideas that could change how people thought — especially during times like the Enlightenment or the Industrial Revolution. Better circulation of ideas helped start new political movements, such as the Anti-Corn Law League. Better circulation of goods helped grow trade and industry. Therefore, understanding circulation helps GCSE History students see how communication and trade helped shape history and bring about cultural, economic, and political change.

In Health and the People (AQA) and Medicine in Britain (Edexcel), circulation can also relate to the circulatory system. In the 1600s, William Harvey proved that the heart pumps blood around the body in a circle called the circulatory system. Harvey’s discovery did not lead to new treatments straight away, but it was a big step forward in understanding how the body works. It also helped challenge old ideas and encouraged more scientific thinking in medicine during the Renaissance.