Year 7 - History
Norman changes to the English landscape
The Norman Conquest: how do we know about the impact of the Conquest on England?
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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 the causes and conduct of the Norman Conquest of England. They develop their understanding of the sorts of evidence historians use to make claims, and how they do this, building an understanding of how we know about these events.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how historians use material remains to understand the use of castles in Norman England.
Key Notes
- The Normans faced many rebellions during William the Conqueror's reign.
- The Normans built motte-and-bailey castles to deter these rebellions.
- The Normans introduced new stone buildings to many towns.
- Historians use the material remains of castles to study the Norman period.
Vocabulary To Learn
- siege: the act of surrounding a town and refusing to let people out or goods in
- motte-and-bailey castle: a type of fortification introduced to England by the Normans
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The written word is the only useful source for the study of the past.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
The Normans faced many rebellions during William the Conqueror's reign. The Normans built motte-and-bailey castles to deter these rebellions.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'siege'
the act of surrounding a town and refusing to let people out or goods in.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: The written word is the only useful source for the study of the past. Correction: Although written sources are useful, material remains can reveal much about past societies - it depends on the questions historians ask of the source.
More Lessons In This Unit
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