Year 10 - History
Life in villages in Norman England
British Depth Study: Norman England, c1066–c1100
Study Hub
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 features of village life and changes to villages under the Normans.
Key Notes
- Village life followed a seasonal pattern.
- Many features of village life stayed the same after the Norman conquest.
- Norman landholders often worked villagers harder and this was resented.
- The feudal system meant a decline in the numbers of freemen and a tighter control over villeins.
- Some villages in the north were destroyed during the Harrying of the North.
Vocabulary To Learn
- manor: a unit of land presided over by a lord
- demesne: the lord of a manor's land which was farmed for him
- villein: a peasant who held between 15 and 30 acres of land and who worked the lord's land for two or three days per week; 40% of peasants were villeins in Norman England
- freeman: a peasant who held up to 100 acres of land which they rented from a lord for money; they were free to rent land from another lord if they chose to
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Village life was the same all over Norman England.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Village life followed a seasonal pattern. Many features of village life stayed the same after the Norman conquest.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'manor'
a unit of land presided over by a lord.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Village life was the same all over Norman England. Correction: While there were many common features, the Viking settlement of the Danelaw meant that freemen in villages in the east were much more independent of the lord of their village's manor than in other parts of the country.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Anglo-Saxon kingship Study Guide
- Battle of Hastings Study Guide
- Battle of Stamford Bridge Study Guide
- Changing laws in Norman England: Forest law 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
- 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
Browse all guides in the Year 10 History guide library.