New
New
Year 10
AQA
Pevensey - sources and historical context
I can explain the strengths and limitations of key sources for Norman England.
New
New
Year 10
AQA
Pevensey - sources and historical context
I can explain the strengths and limitations of key sources for Norman England.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Different types of sources provide insights into the historical context of Norman England.
- Three types of sources are visual sources, text sources and material sources.
- Each type of source has strengths and limitations.
- Pevensey was used by the Norman elite to help them rule England
- Historians debate the extent to which the Normans used castles to project power
Keywords
Source - a direct or first-hand piece of evidence from the past
Historical context - what is happening at the time of a historical event, possibly shaping it
Contemporary - from the same time as something
Common misconception
There are relatively few sources for Norman England, so historians have less to say about this period than later periods of English history.
Historians have plenty to say about Norman England because they are able to interpret the sources available in many different ways to support many different theories.
This lesson is designed to work with all the Norman England Historic Environments, but could easily be adapted to a specific site, for example, in conjunction with the AQA resource pack for that site.
Teacher tip
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Which word describes the language spoken by ordinary people in a region or country?
Q2.
Which word describes the ability to choose and appoint bishops and abbots?
Q3.
Complete the sentence: There are key topics making up the historical context of Norman England.
one
two
four
Q4.
Which topics does 'Life under the Normans' not cover?
economic and social changes and their consequences
feudalism and government
Q5.
Which of the following relate to monasticism in Norman England?
Archbishop Lanfranc and reform of the English Church
the Investiture Controversy
Q6.
Which word describes the support that an overlord provided to their vassal in return for homage?
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Which word describes a direct or first-hand piece of evidence from the past?
Q2.
Which word describes what is happening at the time of a historical event, possibly shaping it?
Q3.
The three types of sources most useful for learning about Norman England are , text sources and...
written sources
painting sources
Q4.
Which of the following are limitations of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as a source about Norman England?
It was written within a year of the events it describes.
Accounts are often biased about Norman actions.
Q5.
Who wrote ‘Gesta Guillelmi’?
Harold Godwinson
William of Normandy
William II
Q6.
Which of the following are strengths of Norman material sources?
have often been remodelled, extended or damaged
surviving buildings for ordinary people are very rare