The arrival of the Vikings
I can recall that the Vikings invaded England from the 790s CE and were given the Danelaw after the 878 CE Battle of Edington.
The arrival of the Vikings
I can recall that the Vikings invaded England from the 790s CE and were given the Danelaw after the 878 CE Battle of Edington.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Prior to the arrival of the Vikings the British Isles was populated by Germanic tribes - the Anglo-Saxons.
- The Vikings invaded Britain as it was a wealthy country and Scandinavia was overpopulated.
- From the 790s the Vikings took East Anglia, Mercia and Northumbria and attempted to take Wessex.
- At the 878 Battle of Edington, King Alfred defeated the Vikings which led to the creation of the Danelaw.
- After the creation of the Danelaw many Vikings settled and the number of raids decreased.
Keywords
Anglo-Saxon - relating to the Germanic inhabitants of England from their arrival in the 5th century to the Norman Conquest
Migration - the movement of people into a new area or country
Viking - a member of the Scandinavian seafaring people who raided Britain from the late 8th century
Raid - a surprise attack
Danelaw - the area of England in the north and east controlled by the Vikings
Common misconception
The Vikings were nothing but brutal savages.
Whilst the Viking aptitude for battle is well known, they were also exceptional explorers and traders. Raiding was simply another way for them to gain wealth as opposed to their only way of life.
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: The arrival of the Vikings, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: The arrival of the Vikings, 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.
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Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Migration: how was medieval Britain impacted by conquest and settlement? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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