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Year 7 - History

Local elites in medieval Norwich

Local history: how similar were medieval lives in Norwich?

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn about the similarities and differences between various medieval lives in Norwich. In doing so, they build deep knowledge of one particular historical place and what it tells us about medieval England more generally.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe the lives and roles of local elites in medieval Norwich.

Key Notes

  • A 1404 charter granted Norwich a mayor.
  • The elite had almost exclusive control over government in Norwich.
  • The Norwich elite was mostly made up of wealthy merchants.
  • The elite used architecture and donations to show off their status.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • charter: a charter is a royal document which granted certain rights
  • mayor: a mayor is the person elected to govern a city
  • freeman: a freeman is a person with special rights in a city
  • elite: an elite is the richest or most powerful group in a society
  • status: the amount of respect or importance a person has is part of their status

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Increased powers of self government in Norwich gave all locals more control over decision-making.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

A 1404 charter granted Norwich a mayor. The elite had almost exclusive control over government in Norwich.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'charter'

a charter is a royal document which granted certain rights.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: Increased powers of self government in Norwich gave all locals more control over decision-making. Correction: Only freemen had real political power in Norwich but very few women and almost no poor people were able to become freemen.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 7 History guide library.