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GCSE History · key term
A demonstration of bravery in warfare, such as approaching and touching a living enemy rather than killing him.
Used by AQA and Edexcel
Paper 1
Revise: Cultural EncountersCounting coup, approaching and touching a living enemy, demonstrated bravery without necessarily killing him. Because communities could not afford heavy losses, warfare did not always aim at destroying an enemy. Nevertheless, fighting could be violent, and some warriors took scalps as trophies.
Paper 2
Demonstrating bravery by approaching and touching a living enemy, for example with a special stick, rather than necessarily killing him.
Explain counting coup as a demonstration of bravery, not simply another name for killing an enemy.
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Counting coup involved getting close enough to a living enemy to touch him, for example with a special stick. The danger involved demonstrated courage and skill. Honour came from taking that risk.