Key Questions:

Year 7 History: Shaping England

1. How were people ruled?
55 and 54 BC: Julius 2. What was life like?
Caesar unsuccessfully June 1215: Signing of 1348-1350: The Black 1558 – 1603: Elizabeth 3. What did people believe?
attempts to invade the Magna Carta Death I is Queen of England
Britain. 4. What continued and changed?
5. How significant was the period?
6. How do we know about the
period?
43AD: Roman invasion
1096-1396: The 1381: The Peasant’s 1553 – 1558: Mary I is
of Britain under
Emperor Claudius.
Crusades Revolt Queen of England What was England like pre
1066?
What was the impact of
the Norman Conquest on
AD 410: Last Roman 29th December 1170 –
soldiers ordered to Murder of Thomas
1455: The War of the 1547 – 1553: Edward England?
Roses begins. VI is King of England
leave Britain. Beckett
What was life like in
Medieval England?

956: Ketter Ingas How did life change in the

1086: Kettering or Medieval Period?
Anglo-Saxon village 1483 – 1485: Richard 1509 – 1547: Henry
‘Cateringe’ recorded in
mentioned for the first III is King of England VIII is King of England.
Domesday book
time in History. How did a family feud
shape the direction of a
nation?
1070: William the
1492: Christopher How significant were the
1066: Norman Conqueror orders the 1485 – 1509: Henry VII
Columbus discovers
Conquest of England building of is King of England
America.
Tudors in shaping
Rockingham Castle England?
 Timeline
Knowledge Organiser: What was England like pre 1066? August 55 BC: Julius Caesar attempted to
invade Britain for the first time. They had
an advantage but the weather meant they
Key words: Definition
had to leave.
Chronology Arranging events or dates by the order they happened. July-August 54 BC: Julius Caesar
Roman A citizen of the ancient Roman empire. attempted to invade Britain for the second
time.
Cause A person/event/action which makes something happen. 54 BC – 43 AD: Rome kept a tight hold
Consequence A result or effect. over Britain through strong trading links.
This increased the Roman influence in
Conquer Overcome and take control of (a place or people) by military force. Britain.
Rebellion An act of armed resistance to an established government or leader. May 43 AD: A Roman army led by Plautius
invaded Britain on behalf of Emperor
Significance The importance of events.
Claudius.
43 AD – 50 AD: The Romans continued
What was so appealing about invading England? their conquest and took the South of
Romans Anglo-Saxons Britain. London was founded and roads
were built.
Precious metals such as gold and tin found there. Fish in plentiful supply in surrounding seas. 60-61 AD: Boudicca led her rebellion. She
Wheat and other crops grew easily in fertile soil across Wheat and other crops grew easily in fertile soil across was eventually defeated.
South and East England. South and East England. 75 AD – 77 AD: The Romans have now
conquered ALL of Britain.
Captured Britons could be sold as slaves. English wool sold across Europe. 77 AD – 410 AD: Roman life was adopted
Wool and cloth produced here could be sold throughout London and other leading towns centres of trade and in Britain. Romans built roads and towns.
the empire. wealth. The last Romans left Britain in 410 AD.
450 AD: First invasions of the Saxons from
Whoever conquered nations to add to the growing Roman England was Europe’s chief supplier of tin. Also produced
Germany. Britain is divided up into the
Empire would be treated as a hero and receive riches from other precious metals such as silver, copper, iron and lead.
Seven Kingdoms of Northumbria, Mercia,
the conquered land.
60 mints issuing coins throughout the country made it very Anglia, Wessex, Essex, Sussex and Kent.
easy for rulers to raise taxes. 596 AD: St Augustine brings Christianity to
England.
 Life in Anglo-Saxon England
Knowledge Organiser: What was England like pre 1066? • The population of England was much
smaller than it is today. Roughly 1.5
Key Word Definition million people lived here – compared
with over 60 million in the 21st century.
Legacy What is left behind by previous civilisations. • Most people lived off the land in the
Invade When an armed force enters a country/territory with the aim to occupy/conquer it. countryside in small villages and were
peasant farmers.
Anglo-Saxon People from northern Germany that lived in England between the 5th century and the Norman • Living off the land meant most were
Conquest. dependent on good harvests each year
Earl A powerful noble and landowner who controlled parts of the country. to see them through the winter. Poor
summers often meant starvation for
Life in Roman Britain thousands of people.
What did the Romans do for us?
• From the evidence found by archaeologists we • There was a small class of people who
The Celtic tribes living in Britain would not
know that religion was very important to the made their money by buying and selling
have welcomed the Roman invasion and
Romans. Temple remains have been found in cities goods. These were known as
fought against them, for example Boudicca's merchants. One of the most important
such as Bath and London, and altars have been
revolt. However, Roman occupation of Britain trades for England at this time was the
found throughout the country.
brought plenty of advantages, as they cloth trade. Raw wool was exported to
• Although Britain was invaded by the Roman army
introduced various aspects of their civilisation Europe to be made into fine clothes.
on three occasions, life was not entirely based • To help the king govern the country
which did not exist here previously:
around war. Archaeological finds show us that well, he divided it into regions called
• Sanitation: aqueducts, water fountains,
people also enjoyed playing board games in the earldoms, and each of these was
public baths, medical knowledge, sewers,
past, as well as nicely decorated homes (shown by controlled by an earl.
central heating systems • St Augustine brought Christianity to
the Fishbourne mosaic).
• Government: law & order England in 597 AD and soon converted
• We also know that the nation was not just British
• Architecture: roads, flats, villas, towns the King. Monasteries and churches
tribes living separately from the soldiers in their
• Education: Latin language, numerals, started to appear across the country.
forts. There is evidence of Britons living inside the • There were very few big towns or cities;
writing
towns built by the Romans, where they would have in fact there were only 7 towns with
• Food: carrots, grapes, apples, leeks,
enjoyed the bath houses, shops and homes with more than 7,500 inhabitants.
radishes, peas, celery, turnips etc.
central heating.
Knowledge Organiser: What was the impact of the Norman Conquest on England?
Key words and definitions Heir A person who inherits property, possession or title after the 5th January 1066 – Edward the Confessor dies
death of another.
with no clear heir. Harold Godwinson crowned
Medieval The period between 1066-1500 Pope Head of the Catholic Church
the next King of England.
Feudal System The social structure of Medieval England. Conquest Taking an area by using force September 1066 – Harald Hardrada, King of
Fyrd Local farmers that fight for Harold Godwinson’s army Norway, invades England.
Villein Peasant at the bottom of the Feudal system.
Housecarls Paid, experienced soldiers that fought for Harold’s army 20th September – Hardrada defeats the English at
Anglo-Saxons People that lived in England before the Norman
Conquest the Battle of Fulford.
Cavalry William’s soldiers that fought on horses 25th September – Harold Godwinson defeats and
Normans People from the Normandy region of France, led
by William Harrying To completely destroy
kills Harald Hardrada.
Bayeux Tapestry An embroidery telling the story of the Norman 28th September – William Duke of Normandy
Baron Noble land owner that pledged their loyalty to the King
Conquest lands at Pevensey on the south coast of England.
Motte and The first type of castle made by William. It was made out of
Taxes Money collected from people by the King. Bailey wood and had a higher Motte part and a lower Bailey part.
14th October – William defeats and kills Harold
Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings.
Tithe One tenth of annual produce or earnings.
Stone Keep Similar to Motte and Bailey but made of stronger materials such
25th December 1066 – William of Normandy is
castle as stone. crowned King of England.

Key batlle: Battle of Stamford Bridge – 25/09/1066 Key battle: Battle of Hastings – 14/10/1066
Battle between Harold Godwinson and Harald Hardrada fought in Yorkshire. Godwinson had to march his army as fast as possible down to Hasting’s back in the
The English army had marched all the way from the south of England and south after the battle of Stamford Bridge. This rapid march meant some soldiers were
caught the Norwegians by surprise (many didn’t have their armour on). left behind and the Saxons were much more tired than the well rested Normans.
Many of Hardrada’s army were attacked and killed as they tried to cross a Godwinson had the high ground in a strong defensive position at the top of a ridge,
river. while William’s army was at the bottom of a hill in marshy ground.
On the other side of the river the Viking soldiers formed a strong, defensive Harold was winning at the start because the Normans were having to attack uphill.
shield wall. Supposedly the English army were delayed from crossing the However at one point in the battle some Saxon soldiers chased after the fleeing
river by one Norse axeman who killed up to 40 English soldiers as they tried Norman troops, losing the protection of the shield wall, and were killed.
to cross. William used the tactic of pretending to run away several times in order to weaken the
After several hours the English had the upper hand and forced the Viking English defences. Eventually, in a final assault, Harold was killed. This caused the
army to run away. Hardrada was killed and Godwinson was victorious. English army to flee and left William as the victor.
Knowledge Organiser: What was the impact of the Norman Conquest on England?
Potential heirs to the English throne in 1066: Who should become king? Methods of control used by William the Conqueror
Harold Godwinson Harald Hardrada William of Normandy Castles: William also kept control by building castles throughout England. Over time 3 types of
castles developed throughout Britain.
Anglo-Saxon. Earl of Wessex, one of Viking King of Norway Duke of Normandy, France.
the most powerful men in England Vikings had ruled Britain before. William came from a fighting family. Motte and Bailey – The first castles built to help
Harold’s sister was married to King Most feared warrior in Europe – He was a brave solider. fight against rebellions. They were built
Edward. Harold was a brave and Hardrada means ‘hard ruler’ and his Edward’s cousin. Edward had lived quickly and made out of wood, meaning
respected solder with a tough nickname was ‘the Ruthless’. Harald in Normandy from 1016-1042.
streak. was supported by Tostig, Harold Edward had supposedly promised that they were not very strong,
The Witan, wanted Harold to be the Godwinson’s brother who wanted that William should become King of and could be easily destroyed.
next king. revenge. England The Bailey was on flat land, where majority
Armies at the Battle of Hastings of the people lived. The Motte was the
higher land of the castle, where the
William’s army Harold’s army fort was.
His soldiers were well trained and well equipped. Harold’s army was made up of professional soldiers Stone Keep – This castle was now made
They wore chain mail armour which gave them much and conscripts, peasant farmers who were forced to out of stone and had towers as a form
protection. His army was made up of infantry, join the army and fight. Harold’s best professional of defence. The main part of the castle
archers and cavalry. His cavalry rode specially bred soldiers were the Saxon Huscarls. They were the
horses which could carry the weight of these horse king’s elite bodyguard. They fought with large axes
was the Keep, a large square tower,
soldiers and still ride at speed. They were the elite of and round shields. used as the main defence.
William’s army.
The Domesday Book
The Feudal System
After taking the throne in 1066, William has a few problems:
- He does not trust the English lords, who do not like him. In 1086, William sent out surveyors to
Why did William win the battle of Hastings?
Leadership
- He has to force the English to accept him as King. every part of England, with orders to list:
- Many of the English are rebelling and fighting against William.
- He has to pay the French Knights who helped him to win
•how much land was there
Preparations Luck William was very brave and led •who had owned it in 1066, and who
the throne.
William had well trained and his men very well. owned it now
professional soldiers. Large parts The weather changed when William showed his face during Solution: William crushes the rebellions and took the land away
of Harold’s army was untrained William was trying to from the English lords and gave it to his supporters instead.
•what was the place like, and who lived
the battle to keep his solders
and made up of farmers. Many of Harold had to fight the Vikings from running away. William now has his supporters helping him to control the whole there
Harolds men had left the army to first this gave William the country. •how much it was worth in 1066 and how
collect the harvest in. Harold was advantage. William also sets up the Feudal System. This forces the English
to give William their taxes and promises of loyalty, in return for
much now
not prepared for the battle. The Saxons left the shield wall to
protection and land to farm. William is at the top of the system, William did this to allow him to effectively
William's army was fresh and well chase the Normans down the
rested. He had lots of supplies. hill.
as he holds all the land and money, which he gives to the Barons. tax the land and earn money.
They promise William their money, soldiers and loyalty. They give
Harold’s was tried and reduced in At a key moment in the battle the land to the Knights in return for loyalty and military service.
William also needed to have an idea of
size following the Battle of Harold was killed. Finally the knights give the land to the peasants. The peasants what could be seized from landowners
Stanford Bridge. farm the land and give food, money and services to the knights. who did not show him loyalty.