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Year 10 - History

The Harrying of the North, 1069-70

British Depth Study: Norman England, c1066–c1100

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 features of the Harrying of the North and explain its causes and impacts.

Key Notes

  • William's control of the North was threatened by rebellions.
  • William aimed to destroy the spirit of rebellion and ensure that no future rebellion could support itself in the North.
  • Norman soldiers systematically killed rebels and destroyed food across Yorkshire – later known as 'Harrying the North'.
  • The resulting famine caused as many as 100 000 people to vanish from the records.
  • There were no further uprisings in the North, but William was criticised for excessive brutality.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • systematically: when something is done systematically it is done in a way that is done according to an agreed set of methods or organised plan
  • scorched-earth: a scorched-earth policy is the act of an army destroying everything in an area such as food, buildings, or equipment that could be useful to an enemy
  • famine: a famine is a situation in which there is not enough food for a great number of people, causing illness and death, or a particular period when this happens
  • refugee: a refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution or natural disaster

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • In the medieval period it was expected that rulers would be ruthless in killing anyone who opposed them.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

William's control of the North was threatened by rebellions. William aimed to destroy the spirit of rebellion and ensure that no future rebellion could support itself in the North.

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

when something is done systematically it is done in a way that is done according to an agreed set of methods or organised plan.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: In the medieval period it was expected that rulers would be ruthless in killing anyone who opposed them. Correction: Rulers were expected to be just and merciful in the medieval period, and Willian faced criticism across Europe for his brutality in crushing opposition in the North of England.

More Lessons In This Unit

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