The role of the Norman barons
I can explain the role of barons in Norman Wales.
The role of the Norman barons
I can explain the role of barons in Norman Wales.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Vassals were people who swore allegiance to their overlord and received land from him in return for service.
- The Marcher earls often relied on vassals to defend the border and expand Norman control in Wales.
- Norman barons exploited weaknesses in Welsh resistance during power struggles between Welsh rulers.
- Norman barons such as Robert of Rhuddlan used brutal tactics to take control of parts of Wales.
Keywords
Baron - an important local landholder in Norman England
Vassal - landholders who received land from their overlord in return for service
Common misconception
Students may think that the Marcher earls governed their earldoms themselves.
In fact, the Marcher earls were busy men with important matters to deal with in Normandy and England. They appointed deputies, including sheriffs, to govern their earldoms in their absence.
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: The role of the Norman barons, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: The role of the Norman barons, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Norman Wales unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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