Norman England, c1066–c1100

What Norman England, c1066–c1100 covers

Norman England, c1066–c1100 is examined in Paper 2, Shaping the nation. It covers causes of Norman Conquest, military aspects: Stamford Bridge, Hastings and Norman tactics, Establishing and maintaining control, Feudalism and government, economic and social changes and their consequences, the Norman Church and Archbishop Lanfranc, Norman monasticism, learning and education and the historic environment of Norman England.

The 10 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• Causes of Norman ConquestEdward the Confessor's death, the Witan, the claims of Harold Godwinson, William of Normandy and Harald Hardrada, the oath, Edgar Aethling, the power of the Godwins, the rising of 1065, and the papal banner.Open →
• Military aspects: Stamford Bridge, Hastings and Norman tacticsThe battles of Fulford and Stamford Bridge, William's landing at Pevensey, the Battle of Hastings with the English shield wall and housecarls against Norman archers, infantry and knights, the feigned retreat, the first Norman castles, and why Harold Godwinson lost.Open →
• Establishing and maintaining controlThe rebellions of Edwin and Morcar, the northern rising of 1069 and the Danish fleet, the Harrying of the North and its consequences, Hereward the Wake, the Revolt of the Earls, William's methods of control and his regents, and the division of his inheritance and the rebellion of 1088.Open →
• Feudalism and governmentThe feudal system, tenants-in-chief, homage, the servitium debitum and subinfeudation, patronage, the fate of the thegns, Norman changes to Anglo-Saxon government and law, trial by ordeal and by combat, the murdrum fine, inheritance and wardship, and the Domesday survey and the Oath of Salisbury.Open →
• Economic and social changes and their consequencesCastles and the towns, new boroughs, the Jewish community, open fields and the manor, a villein's labour, building in stone, the peasant diet, women's work, the farming year, and Forest law.Open →
• The Norman Church and Archbishop LanfrancThe English Church before 1066 and Stigand's fall, Lanfranc's reforms against simony, married clergy and pluralism, Canterbury's authority over York, new cathedrals and Church courts, the tithe, William I's rules on the Papacy, William II's quarrel with Anselm, and the Investiture Controversy.Open →
• Norman monasticism, learning and educationMonasteries before and after 1066, Battle Abbey, the Rule of St Benedict and the three vows, a monk's day and the officials, the scriptorium, schools and Latin, and the fate of English and French.Open →
• The historic environment of Norman EnglandHow to write about a Norman site's location, function, structure, people and design, including why castles stood where they did, the motte-and-bailey plan, the Norman great church, round arches and heavy pillars, and what such buildings show about Norman power over the English.Open →
• Historic site: the Battle of Hastings (2027)The 2027 historic environment site: the ridge at Battle where Harold faced William on 14 October 1066, how the ground shaped the fighting, Battle Abbey built as penance with its altar where Harold fell, and the sources and debate over the site.Open →
• Historic site: the White Tower (2028)The 2028 historic environment site: the Conqueror's great keep in the corner of London's Roman walls, its builders, stone, raised entrance and Chapel of St John, its roles as fortress, palace and prison, and what it meant to conquered Londoners.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Norman England, c1066–c1100 further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Harold Godwinson vs Harald Hardrada

  Harold Godwinson: earl chosen by the Witan the day after Edward the Confessor died. Harald Hardrada: Norwegian king who claimed England through an old agreement between the Danish and Norwegian royal houses.

• Fulford vs Stamford Bridge

  Fulford: battle near York on 20 September 1066 where the Norwegians beat Edwin and Morcar. Stamford Bridge: battle of 25 September 1066 where Harold Godwinson's army killed Hardrada and Tostig.

• Servitium debitum vs Subinfeudation

  Servitium debitum: fixed number of knights a tenant-in-chief owed the king, usually for forty days a year. Subinfeudation: a tenant-in-chief granting part of his land to knights who then owed him service.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   On what date did Edward the Confessor die, and why did his death cause a crisis?

   Model answer

   He died on 5 January 1066 leaving no child to succeed him, so several rival men claimed the English throne.

2. 2

   What was the Witan, and what part did it play in the succession of 1066?

   Model answer

   It was the council of leading nobles and churchmen who advised the king, and it chose Harold Godwinson as the next ruler the day after Edward died.

3. 3

   On what grounds did Harold Godwinson claim the throne?

   Model answer

   He said the dying king had named him successor, the Witan had elected him, and he was already the richest and most powerful earl in the kingdom.

4. 4

   On what grounds did Duke William of Normandy claim the throne?

   Model answer

   He said Edward had promised him the succession in 1051, that Harold Godwinson had later sworn a sacred oath to support him, and that he was Edward's kinsman through Emma of Normandy.

5. 5

   What is supposed to have happened when Harold Godwinson visited Normandy in 1064?

   Model answer

   He swore an oath on holy relics to help William become king of England, which the Normans afterwards used to call him a perjurer.

6. 6

   On what grounds did Harald Hardrada claim the throne?

   Model answer

   He argued that an earlier agreement between the Danish and Norwegian royal houses had promised England to the kings of Norway.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Norman England, c1066–c1100 revision questions

What does Norman England, c1066–c1100 cover in AQA GCSE History?

10 subtopics: causes of norman conquest, military aspects: stamford bridge, hastings and norman tactics, establishing and maintaining control, feudalism and government, economic and social changes and their consequences, the norman church and archbishop lanfranc, norman monasticism, learning and education, the historic environment of norman england, historic site: the battle of hastings (2027) and historic site: the white tower (2028). Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Norman England, c1066–c1100 organised?

By the AQA 8145 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.