feudal refers to a hierarchical social system where people receive land to live and work on from those higher than them, and in return have to work and fight for them

paying homage was to publicly submit and swear an oath of fealty (loyalty) to someone above you in the feudal system

an overlord in the feudal system was someone who granted land in return for service

a vassal in the feudal system was someone who provided a service (e.g. labour) to an overlord in return for land

a fief was a parcel of land given by an overlord to a vassal in return for their service to their overlord

The Norman feudal system

History

Pupils will learn about how changes to government influenced ordinary people

Pupils know about William's conquest of England and consolidation of power

Norman England: how far did Norman government change England?

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of violence or fighting, including threats of violence or the aftermath of violence.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Which of these definitions is the best for the term 'continuity'?

Which of these key terms refers specifically to a parcel of land which carried obligations for the landholder?

the ability of some landholders to buy and sell their land freely

the monarch's ability to grant land to reward their followers

the importance of the Church as a major landholder

Which of these continued largely unchanged between Anglo-Saxon society and society in Norman England?

Which of these positions in the Norman feudal hierarchy describes a type of peasant?

Complete the caption for this image: The right of an overlord to take land away from disloyal tenants was known as...

forfeiture gave him the power to punish those who disobeyed him

homage involved an oath to 'be William's man'

knight service meant William was provided with well-equipped troops

labour service provided food for those who did not farm for themselves

landownership by the king meant William could grant land as a reward

In which of these ways did the feudal system increase loyalty to William?

In what month and year was William crowned king of England?

Which of these Anglo-Saxon earls were also earls in Norman England?

Who did William make Earl of Kent and then the first Marcher earl of Hereford?

Complete this sentence: The term {{}} means someone appointed to govern a country while the monarch is away or too ill to govern.

Which tenant-in-chief and regent of England is shown in this modern illustration? He fell out of favour with William and ended up in prison until William I's death.

Which of these key individuals helped defeat the Revolt of the Earls before it became a threat to William's rule of England?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

The Norman feudal system

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.