Year 5 - History
Aethelred, Alfred the Great and Wessex
The Vikings: why did they come to the British Isles?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
n this unit, pupils learn about the period in which Viking invaders first came to Britain. They learn about the Vikings themselves and the conflict that emerged between them and the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England. Pupils also learn about the roles of Aethelred and Alfred the Great in this period.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe how the kingdom of Wessex tried to resist the Viking invaders.
Key Notes
- In 870, Wessex was ruled by the young king Aethelred, aided by his younger brother Alfred.
- They managed to stall the Viking invasion of Wessex by defeating them at the Battle of Ashdown.
- In further battles the Vikings pushed the forces of Wessex back, killing Aethelred in 871.
- The new King Alfred fought against the Vikings, now reinforced by the Danish chief Guthrum who had arrived in 872.
- Alfred made peace with the Vikings, probably bribing them, they went on to conquer Mercia and then Northumbria.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Wessex: Wessex was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the south of England
- defend: when you defend something, you resist an attack made against it
- stall: to stall means to stop something making progress
- bribe: a bribe means to give someone money or something else of value, often illegally, to persuade that person to do something you want
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may not realise that the Viking army was so large it was able to split its forces which led to its success across Britain.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
In 870, Wessex was ruled by the young king Aethelred, aided by his younger brother Alfred. They managed to stall the Viking invasion of Wessex by defeating them at the Battle of Ashdown.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Wessex'
Wessex was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the south of England.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Pupils may not realise that the Viking army was so large it was able to split its forces which led to its success across Britain. Correction: The Viking army was so large, it could split into different sections and fight in different parts of Britain at the same time. The army could also send reinforcements from one section to support another section in need.
More Lessons In This Unit
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