Year 10 - History
The Norman conquest (1066)
Britain: Migration, empires and the people - c790 to the present day
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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 a theme in British history over a period of roughly 1000 years. They examine this theme, analysing the impact it had in Medieval, Early Modern, Industrial and Modern Britain, with a particular focus on change and continuity.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to recall that the Normans conquered England in 1066 and made a number of changes to English life, such as creating the feudal system and reforming the Church.
Key Notes
- In 1066, the English King, Edward the Confessor, died without an heir, triggering a succession crisis.
- William of Normandy believed he was the rightful heir and that Edward had promised him the throne.
- William invaded England in 1066 and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings.
- Almost all Anglo-Saxons lost land which was transferred to the Normans in the creation of the feudal system.
- The Normans built a number of new buildings such as castles and monasteries and reformed the English Church.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Normans: the people who settled in Normandy in the 10th century
- succession: the right or sequence of inheriting a title or position
- monasteries: a building housing a community of monks
- feudal system: the social system introduced to England by the Normans, which greatly increased the power of the king
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- England had not been invaded before the Norman Conquest.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
In 1066, the English King, Edward the Confessor, died without an heir, triggering a succession crisis. William of Normandy believed he was the rightful heir and that Edward had promised him the throne.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Normans'
the people who settled in Normandy in the 10th century.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: England had not been invaded before the Norman Conquest. Correction: Britain had been invaded many times before the Norman Conquest: by the Romans, the tribes known as Angles and Saxons and by the Vikings.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Angevin Empire Study Guide
- Cecil Rhodes and the Boer War Study Guide
- Experience of post-WW2 migrants in Britain Study Guide
- Factors causing westward migration Study Guide
- Huguenot migration Study Guide
- Impact of conquest and settlement on medieval Britain Study Guide
- Impact of empire on migration in and out of Britain Study Guide
- Irish migration to Britain in the 19th century Study Guide
- Jewish migration to Britain in the 19th and 20th centuries Study Guide
- Movement within the British Empire Study Guide
- Post war migration to Britain: Migration from East Africa Study Guide
- Post war migration to Britain: The Falklands Study Guide
- Post war migration to Britain: The Windrush generation Study Guide
- The arrival of the Vikings Study Guide
- The colonisation of North America Study Guide
- The Danish conquest Study Guide
- The end of the British Empire in the 20th century Study Guide
- The Hundred Years' War Study Guide
- The impact of British rule in India Study Guide
- The impact of imperial propaganda in the 19th century Study Guide
- The impact of the EU on migrant experiences in Britain Study Guide
- The impact of the World Wars on migration to and from Britain Study Guide
- The Indian Rebellion Study Guide
- The origins of British rule in India Study Guide
- The scramble for Africa Study Guide
- The Transatlantic Slave Trade Study Guide
- The War of Independence Study Guide
- Ulster Plantations and Highland Clearances Study Guide
- What sources can tell us about the expansion of Empire Study Guide
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