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Year 10 - History

Change and continuity in Norman England

British depth study: Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils study an aspect of British medieval history in depth. They learn about the social, economic, religious and political events that influenced the lives of those who lived in this period.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain the extent of change and continuity in Norman England.

Key Notes

  • The most significant change in Norman England was the change in the ruling elite.
  • A positive change was a reduction in the number of enslaved people.
  • While some areas were damaged by Norman actions, generally the economy recovered under the Normans.
  • Anglo-Saxon government systems were sophisticated and the Normans kept much more than they changed.
  • One area of law that changed significantly was Forest law.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • elite: elite refers to the richest, most powerful, best-educated, or best-trained group in a society
  • continuity: continuity is the fact of something continuing for a long period of time without being changed or stopped
  • government: government is the group of people who officially control/rule a country

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • That the Normans destroyed all Anglo-Saxon government.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

The most significant change in Norman England was the change in the ruling elite. A positive change was a reduction in the number of enslaved people.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'elite'

elite refers to the richest, most powerful, best-educated, or best-trained group in a society.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: That the Normans destroyed all Anglo-Saxon government. Correction: Anglo-Saxon government systems were sophisticated, perhaps more developed than Normandy's. The Normans retained and built on the existing Anglo-Saxon governmental institutions.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 10 History guide library.