Year 10 - History
The Norman army
Battle of Hastings
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the historical environment, choosing the relevant site study to complement their understanding of Norman England.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe key features of the Norman infantry and cavalry.
Key Notes
- The Norman army contained a mix of infantry and cavalry.
- The Norman army was made up of professional soldiers.
- The Norman infantry included foot soldiers and archers.
- The Norman army featured military innovations that were new to England.
- The shield wall needed to be weakened before Norman cavalry could be effective.
Vocabulary To Learn
- infantry: soldiers who fight on foot are known as infantry
- cavalry: soldiers who fight on horseback are known as cavalry
- mercenary: a mercenary is someone who joins a foreign army in order to be paid
- innovation: an innovation is a new way of doing something, based on new ideas or developments
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- If William had more knights, he would have won the Battle of Hastings more quickly.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
The Norman army contained a mix of infantry and cavalry. The Norman army was made up of professional soldiers.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'infantry'
soldiers who fight on foot are known as infantry.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: If William had more knights, he would have won the Battle of Hastings more quickly. Correction: Knights may have been less effective against the shield wall than infantry, because the unarmoured horses were vulnerable. They were probably much more effective in later stages of the battle, once the shield wall had been broken up.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Anglo-Saxon preparations for invasion in 1066 Study Guide
- Luck and the Battle of Hastings Study Guide
- Norman England - historical context themes Study Guide
- Norman England - sources and historical context Study Guide
- Norman preparations for invasion in 1066 Study Guide
- Norman weapons, armour and tactics Study Guide
- Structuring your answer to the historic environment question Study Guide
- The Anglo-Saxon army Study Guide
- The location of the Battle of Hastings Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 10 History guide library.