Year 7 - History
The Battle of Hastings (1066)
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 describe what happened during the Battle of Hastings and how historians can use the Bayeux Tapestry.
Key Notes
- William of Normandy made thorough preparations for the Battle of Hastings.
- William of Normandy defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings.
- The Bayeux Tapestry is an important source for the study of the Battle of Hastings.
- Historians have to use the Bayeux Tapestry carefully when establishing what happened during the Battle of Hastings.
Vocabulary To Learn
- fyrd: a group of local, untrained soldiers called up to fight in Anglo-Saxon England
- shield wall: the defensive line of shields used by the Anglo-Saxon army
- infantry: foot soldiers
- cavalry: soldiers on horseback
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- That the Bayeux Tapestry is a 'biased' source and therefore not useful to historians.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
William of Normandy made thorough preparations for the Battle of Hastings. William of Normandy defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'fyrd'
a group of local, untrained soldiers called up to fight in Anglo-Saxon England.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: That the Bayeux Tapestry is a 'biased' source and therefore not useful to historians. Correction: Although all sources were produced in a particular context, historians can ask careful questions of them to learn about the past.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 7 History guide library.