Year 10 - History
London before the Norman Conquest
White Tower
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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 London before the Norman Conquest.
Key Notes
- Roman Londinium was fortified by the London Wall, a two-mile long structure built to defend the city from invaders.
- London declined after the Romans left Britain and by the 5th century had been abandoned as a settlement.
- In 886, King Alfred the Great re-established a settlement inside the London Wall as a fortified burh.
- By the 11th century, London was again an important city due to being a centre of trade, religion and government.
- Edward the Confessor had close ties to Westminster, building Westminster Abbey there by 1065.
Vocabulary To Learn
- trade: the exchange of goods
- abbey: a building housing monks or nuns
- cathedral: the seat of a bishop and a very large, usually stone, building used for Christian worship
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Romanesque buildings only began to be built in England after the Norman Conquest.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Roman Londinium was fortified by the London Wall, a two-mile long structure built to defend the city from invaders. London declined after the Romans left Britain and by the 5th century had been abandoned as a settlement.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'trade'
the exchange of goods.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Romanesque buildings only began to be built in England after the Norman Conquest. Correction: Edward the Confessor's Westminster Abbey was built in Romanesque style and completed in 1065.
More Lessons In This Unit
- London and the events of 1066 Study Guide
- St John's Chapel Study Guide
- The architecture of the White Tower Study Guide
- The function of the White Tower Study Guide
- The residents of the White Tower Study Guide
- The site of the White Tower Study Guide
- The White Tower: structuring your answer to the historic environment question Study Guide
- White Tower - historical context themes Study Guide
- White Tower - sources and historical context Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 10 History guide library.