Edexcel History GCSE – Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, 1060-1088

Revision Booklet

This booklet includes:

Personal Learning Checklist

Key Individual Tables

Content Mind-Maps

Timelines

Exam-Style Questions & Structures

Please note that this is not the only thing you should use to revise – be

sure to use notes and sheets from class, in addition to your own research

and example papers.

Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, 1060 - 1088

R Steps to improve… A Steps to

improve…

G

Topic 1:

Anglo-Saxon England and the

Norman Conquest, 1060 - 1066

Anglo-Saxon Society

The House of Godwin

The Succession Crisis

The Norman Invasion

Topic 2:

William’s Consolidation of Power

Submission of the Earls

Marcher Earldoms

Castles

Revolts (Saxon & Norman)

Topic 3:

Norman England, 1066 - 1087

The Feudal System

Landholding

Government

Royal Power

Norman Culture

Domesday Book

The Church

William’s Family

Topic 1: Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest, 1060 – 1066

Key Individuals

Individual Description

Edward the Confessor

Harold Godwinson

Tostig Godwinson

Duke William of

Normandy

Edgar Aethling

Harald Hardrada

Thegns Slaves

Peasant Farmers Ceorls

Anglo-

Saxon

Society

Practice Question:

Describe two features of Anglo-Saxon society.

The Power of the King

Reasons for power Limits to power

Power of the Earls

Reasons for power Limits to power

Hierarchy of Society

The Witan

Members

Main role

Main powers

Limits to power

Local Government

Earldoms

Shires

Hundreds

Tithings

Important roles

Shire reeve

Fyrd (General)

Fyrd (select)

The Legal System

Blood Feuds

Wergild

Collective responsibility

The King

The Anglo-Saxon Economy

Coins

Towns (burhs)

Villages

Trade

The Church

Saints

Members

Corruption

Everyday impact

The House of Godwin

Family members

Reasons for power

Harold Godwinson

Harold’s embassy to Normandy

Practice Question

Explain why the House of Godwin was so powerful. (12 marks)

The Tostig Rising (1065)

Main causes of the rising:

Tostig’s actions:

Impact:

Harold’s actions:

Impact:

The Succession crisis – 1066

William of Normandy

Nationality:

Claim to throne:

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Harold Godwinson

Nationality:

Claim to throne:

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Edgar Aethling

Nationality:

Claim to throne:

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Harald Hardrada

Nationality:

Claim to throne:

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

The Battles of 1066

Battle of Gate Fuford

Description: Impact:

Battle of Stamford Bridge:

Description:

Impact:

The Norman Invasion

The Battle of Hastings

Why did the Normans win?

William’s troops +/-

Harold’s troops +/-

Timeline

1066

Topic 2: William’s Consolidation of Power

Key Individuals

Individual Description

Earls Edwin

and Morcar

King Sweyn of

Denmark

Robert Cumin

Hereward the

Wake

Ralph de

Gael, Earl of

East Anglia

Roger de

Breteuil, Earl of

Hereford

Waltheof, Earl

of

Northumbria

Archbishop

Lanfranc

The Conquest

The March on London

The submission of the earls

Rewarding Saxons

Rewarding Normans

The Marcher Earldoms

Features of Anglo-Saxon

earldoms

Features of Marcher

earldoms

This helped William

keep power because…

Castles

Key features of a motte and bailey

castle

Locations

William’s motivation

Difference to burhs

The Harrying of the North

Causes/William’s motivation

Short-term impacts

Long-term impacts

Impact for William +/-

Anglo-Saxon resistance and rebellion

Date Revolt Rebels Strengths Weaknesses William’s

response

1068

1069

1070-1

1075

Topic 3: Norman England, 1066 – 1087

Key Individuals

Individual Description

Archbishop

Stigand

Archbishop

Lanfranc

Bishop Odo /

Odo of Bayeux

Queen Matilda

Robert Curthose

William Rufus

The Feudal System

Similarities to Saxon society Differences to Saxon society

Land ownership

Loss of Saxon land

Norman ownership

Feudalism

Knight service

Norman Government

Centralised power

Regents

The Forest

Sheriffs

Similarities to Saxon government Differences to Saxon government

Royal Power

Method Description This helped William keep

control because…

Military

Succession

Ceremonies

Coinage &

Writs

Touring

Lad

Ownership

Oath-Taking

Norman Culture

Religion Landholding

Language Aristocracy/nobility

The Domesday Book

Purpose Financial importance

Legal importance Military importance

The Norman Church

Social role Bishops Stigand and Lanfranc

Norman reforms Bishop Odo

William’s Family

William’s Sons Description Relationship with William

1. Robert Curthose

2. William Rufus

William’s later years and tension

Causes of tension 1077 revolt by Robert William II and Bishop Odo

Normanisation of England

1066 1087

Practice Questions

Topic 1: Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest, 1060 – 1066

4 marks

1. Describe two features of towns in Anglo-Saxon England.

2. Describe two features of the social system of Anglo-Saxon England.

3. Describe two features of Harold’s troops at the Battle of Hastings.

4. Describe two features of William’s troops at the Battle of Hastings.

5. Describe two reasons why the House of Godwin was so powerful.

6. Describe two features of earldoms in Anglo-Saxon England.

7. Describe two features of the Anglo-Saxon monarchy.

12 marks

1. Explain why William won the Battle of Hastings.

2. Explain why there was a succession crisis after the death of Edward the Confessor.

3. Explain why there was a rising against Earl Tostig in 1065.

4. Explain why Thegns were important in Anglo-Saxon England.

16 marks

1. ‘The main reason for the English defeat at the Battle of Hastings was superior

Norman tactics.’ How far do you agree?

Topic 2: William’s Consolidation of Power

4 marks

1. Describe two features of the Revolt of the Earls in 1075.

2. Describe one immediate impact of the Harrying of the North and one long-term

impact.

3. Describe two ways in which William successfully dealt with Anglo-Saxon rebellions.

4. Describe two causes of Anglo-Saxon resistance in the period 1068 – 1071.

5. Describe two features of the rebellions in the North, 1069.

6. Describe two features of Norman castles that made them effective against unrest.

12 marks

1. Explain why William was able to become king of England after the Battle of

Hastings.

2. Explain how changes in the landownership made resistance to Norman control less

likely after 1071.

3. Explain how the Marcher earldoms were different from Anglo-Saxon earldoms.

4. Explain why William created the Marcher earldoms.

16 marks

1. ‘William’s strategy for ruling England had failed by 1070.’ How far do you agree?

2. ‘The main reason for the Harrying of the North was to prevent another Danish

invasion.’ How far do you agree?

3. ‘William wanted to include the Anglo-Saxon earls in the way he ruled England.’

How far do you agree?

Topic 3: Norman England, 1066 – 1087

4 marks

1. Describe two features of Norman aristocratic culture.

2. Describe two ways in which the role of the sheriff changed after the Norman

Conquest.

3. Describe two features of Norman government.

4. Describe two ways in which the feudal system of Norman England was different

from how society had worked under Edward the Confessor.

12 marks

1. Explain why Bishop Odo lost power in 1082.

2. Explain why William Rufus was able to defeat the rebellion of 1088.

16 marks

1. ‘It was changes in landholding that did the most to secure Norman control of

England. How far do you agree?’

2. ‘Of all the changes the Normans made in England, the most important was the

change to the Church’. How far do you agree?

3. ‘The main consequence of the Normanisation of England was that the king

became more powerful.’ How far do you agree?

4. ‘The main significance of the Domesday Book was financial.’ How far do you

agree?