Study Guides

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 retell the story of how the Vikings came to settle in large parts of Britain.

Key Notes

• The Vikings first came to Britain in small raids on monasteries and these grew more frequent.
• The Great Heathen Army came to Britain, bringing lots of Vikings who began to settle on Anglo-Saxon land.
• The Great Heathen Army overcame all of the Saxon kingdoms apart from Wessex, which came to be ruled by King Alfred.
• Fighting back against Guthrum and the Great Heathen Army, Alfred managed to confine the Vikings to the Danelaw.
• A good story of how the Vikings came to settle in large parts of Britain will use knowledge from across this unit.

Vocabulary To Learn

• raid: a raid is a rapid surprise attack, usually involving stealing something
• monastery: a monastery is a building lived in by a community of monks who follow religious vows
• settled: when you are settled you make a permanent home somewhere
• Danelaw: the area that Alfred allowed the Vikings to rule was called the Danelaw

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Pupils may not understand that the Vikings came to Britain for different reasons over a long period of time.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Aethelred, Alfred the Great and Wessex Study Guide
• Early Viking raids Study Guide
• Seafaring Vikings Study Guide
• The Anglo-Saxon fightback Study Guide
• The Great Heathen Army Study Guide