Year 5 - History
The Great Heathen Army
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 Vikings took over more and more of Britain in the 800s CE.
Key Notes
- Viking raids increased in number throughout the 800s CE, and by 850 they had begun to make winter camps in Britain.
- In 865 CE, the biggest Viking army ever to have come to Britain arrived in East Anglia: The Great Heathen Army.
- By 869, the Vikings had won key battles against Northumbria and East Anglia while Mercia had bribed them not to attack.
- Only Wessex, which controlled most of southern Britain, remained in resistance to the Vikings.
Vocabulary To Learn
- heathen: a heathen is a person who does not belong to a widely held religion
- East Anglia: East Anglia was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the east of England
- Northumbria: Northumbria was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in northeastern England
- Mercia: Mercia was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in what is the Midlands in England today
- Wessex: Wessex was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the south of England
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may not understand that Britain was formed of separate Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Viking raids increased in number throughout the 800s CE, and by 850 they had begun to make winter camps in Britain. In 865 CE, the biggest Viking army ever to have come to Britain arrived in East Anglia: The Great Heathen Army.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'heathen'
a heathen is a person who does not belong to a widely held religion.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Pupils may not understand that Britain was formed of separate Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Correction: At this time, Britain was formed of four separate kingdoms: East Anglia, Northumbria, Mercia and Wessex.
More Lessons In This Unit
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