Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
New
New
Year 10
AQA

Norman England - historical context themes

I can recall and apply key themes from the historical context of Norman England.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 10
AQA

Norman England - historical context themes

I can recall and apply key themes from the historical context of Norman England.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. There are three key topics making up the historical context of Norman England.
  2. 'Norman conquest and control' covers causes of the conquest, military aspects and establishing and maintaining control.
  3. 'Life under the Normans' covers feudalism and government and economic and social changes and their consequences.
  4. 'The Norman Church and monasticism' covers the Church and monasticism.

Common misconception

The Anglo-Saxon Church was old-fashioned and corrupt.

The Normans were keen to present the Anglo-Saxon Church that way, but Edward the Confessor had kept up with reforms from the rest of Europe.

Keywords

  • Inheritance - receiving property or other items from a parent or other after their death

  • Patronage - the support that an overlord provided to their vassal in return for homage

  • Romanesque - an architectural style inspired by the buildings of ancient Rome

  • Investiture - the ability to choose and appoint bishops and abbots

  • Vernacular - the language spoken by ordinary people in a region or country

This lesson is designed to be used as a way of making links between this year's historic environment and the historical context themes of the AQA course.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

Skip video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Complete the sentence: was considered important in both Anglo-Saxon and Norman cultures and was linked to God's favour.
Correct Answer: Luck, luck
Q2.
When did William's fleet cross the Channel?
July
August
Correct answer: September
October
Q3.
What is the best definition for the keyword 'victory'?
an architectural style inspired by the buildings of ancient Rome
Correct answer: the act of defeating an enemy
the language spoken by ordinary people in a region or country
Q4.
Which of the following statements suggest that Hardrada and Tostig’s invasion was good luck for Harold?
Correct answer: Many of the Viking troops had left their armour on their ships.
He had to march north to defeat their invasion and leave the south undefended.
Correct answer: He was able to march very quickly with his army.
Q5.
Which of the following events did not involve luck just before and during the Battle of Hastings?
Harold’s rush down to Hastings.
Correct answer: Harold was killed or injured because of a deliberate tactic.
rumours of William’s death
Harold's failure of surprise attack.
Correct answer: The feigned retreat was a tactic Norman knights trained for.
Q6.
Complete the sentence: Harold’s bad luck is shown in the Bayeux Tapestry, a scene shows a bad omen in the sky - a ...
Correct Answer: comet

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keyword to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:investiture,the ability to choose and appoint bishops and abbots

the ability to choose and appoint bishops and abbots

Correct Answer:patronage,support that an overlord provided to their vassal in return for homage

support that an overlord provided to their vassal in return for homage

Correct Answer:inheritance,receiving property or other items from a relative after their death

receiving property or other items from a relative after their death

Q2.
Which keyword describes an architectural style inspired by the buildings of ancient Rome?
Correct Answer: Romanesque, romanesque
Q3.
Which three topics does 'Norman conquest and control' cover?
Correct answer: causes of the conquest
feudalism and government
Correct answer: military aspects
monasticism
Correct answer: maintaining control
Q4.
Which topics does 'Life under the Normans' cover?
Correct answer: economic and social changes and their consequences
the Church
Correct answer: feudalism and government
military aspects
monasticism
Q5.
Which two of the following are not military aspects of Norman England?
Anglo-Saxon and Norman tactics
Correct answer: the Harrying of the North
Correct answer: the inheritance of William II
cavalry and castles
Q6.
Which two of the following relate to the Church of Norman England?
Latin usage and the vernacular
Correct answer: Archbishop Lanfranc and reform of the English Church
Correct answer: the Investiture Controversy
the building of abbeys and monasteries