Year 10 - History
Changing laws in Norman England: Forest law
British Depth Study: Norman England, c1066–c1100
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
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 describe the changes introduced by Forest law and the impact of Forest law on ordinary people.
Key Notes
- Forest law was a new set of laws introduced to England by the Normans.
- William and his successors increased the area classed as forest until a third of England was covered by Forest law.
- Punishments for breaking Forest law could be much more severe than punishments in common law.
- Forest law made life much harder for peasants because they were now banned from using resources they depended on.
- Forest law was resented by ordinary people but also by Norman tenants of the king, since it affected their lands too.
Vocabulary To Learn
- successor: the person who is king or queen after the previous monarch
- tenant: someone who uses land owned by someone else in return for rent or services
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- That forest in Norman England always meant land covered by trees.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Forest law was a new set of laws introduced to England by the Normans. William and his successors increased the area classed as forest until a third of England was covered by Forest law.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'successor'
the person who is king or queen after the previous monarch.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: That forest in Norman England always meant land covered by trees. Correction: Forest in Norman England meant an area that was reserved for hunting and so could include open land, village land, even towns, as well as woodland.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Anglo-Saxon kingship Study Guide
- Battle of Hastings Study Guide
- Battle of Stamford Bridge Study Guide
- Continuity and change in Norman government Study Guide
- Daily life in Norman England Study Guide
- Domesday Book Study Guide
- Edward the Confessor, the Godwins and William of Normandy Study Guide
- Edward the Confessor's death and the claimants to the throne Study Guide
- Establishing control: motte-and-bailey castles Study Guide
- Establishing control: new earls and earldoms Study Guide
- Justice and the legal system in Norman England Study Guide
- Key figures in the government of Norman England Study Guide
- Land and inheritance in Norman England Study Guide
- Lanfranc's reforms Study Guide
- Life in towns in Norman England Study Guide
- Life in villages in Norman England Study Guide
- Norman reforms of English monasticism Study Guide
- Reasons for William's victory in 1066 Study Guide
- Revolts against William I, 1067-1075 Study Guide
- The Anglo-Saxon Church Study Guide
- The built environment of Norman England Study Guide
- The Harrying of the North, 1069-70 Study Guide
- The king and the Church in Norman England Study Guide
- The Norman Church Study Guide
- The Norman feudal system Study Guide
- The Reform Papacy Study Guide
- The submission of London in 1066 Study Guide
- William's consolidation of power Study Guide
- Work and diet in Norman England Study Guide
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