Revise AQA GCSE History: Norman England c1066–c1100

Key Topics Covered

• Anglo-Saxon England
• Causes of the Norman Conquest
• Military Aspects
• Establishing and Maintaining Control
• Life under the Normans
• The Norman Church and Monasticism
• The Historic Environment of Norman England
• Skills and Practice Questions

Anglo-Saxon England

• Kings and Governance:
  • The king owned more land than anyone else, controlled the courts, could raise taxes, and issue laws.
  • Key roles in society: King, Earls (powerful nobles who advised the king in the Witan), Thegns (local lords who ran courts and collected taxes), Ceorls (free peasants, some owning land, others renting), Villeins, borders, and cottars (unfree peasants with few rights), and Thralls (slaves, about 10% of the population).
• Church Influence:
  • The English Church developed its own identity, influenced by Irish missionaries like St Patrick.
  • In the 10th century, the Church thrived under St Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, who reformed the Church and improved clergy standards.
  • After Dunstan’s death, Viking raids weakened the Church, and it never regained its former strength.
• Culture and Society:
  • Anglo-Saxon England had a rich culture with skilled craftsmen producing high-quality art, especially in metalwork and enamel.
  • Literature, poetry, histories, and maps were produced; "Beowulf" is the most famous work.
  • The king’s power was balanced by the influence of the Witan, but the king was not required to follow their advice.
  • England was wealthy, with fertile farmland and valuable resources, and was an important trading nation, especially in wool.

Causes of the Norman Conquest

• Succession Crisis of 1066:
  • King Edward the Confessor died without a clear heir, leading to a crisis over who should be king.
  • England’s history of divided rule and foreign influence (Vikings, Normans, Godwin family) contributed to instability.
• External and Internal Threats:
  • Vikings saw England as a valuable prize and had ruled for periods in the early 11th century.
  • The Normans, connected to Edward through his upbringing, also posed a threat.
  • The Godwin family, especially Harold Godwinson, were powerful and sought to expand their influence.
• Why England Was Attractive:
  • England was wealthy, had strong central control, and efficient administration, making it desirable to invaders.
• Claimants to the Throne:
  • Edgar theling: Closest blood relative but young and inexperienced.
  • Harold Godwinson: Powerful, chosen by the Witan, claimed Edward promised him the throne.
  • Harald Hardrada: Claimed the throne through an earlier promise to his father.
  • William of Normandy: Claimed Edward promised him the throne in 1051 and that Harold had sworn to support him.
• Promises and Oaths:
  • In England, a king’s last words overruled previous promises; Harold claimed Edward named him heir on his deathbed.
  • In Normandy, promises were binding; William claimed Harold had sworn to support his claim, and the Pope supported William.

Military Aspects and Battles

• Preparations for Invasion:
  • Harold Godwinson quickly assembled a navy and army, calling up ships and men from across England.
  • William of Normandy had to persuade his vassals to support him, build ships, and secure papal support, which took time.
  • William built pre-fabricated castles to bring to England for rapid defense.
• Harold’s Challenges:
  • Harold’s army was disbanded in September 1066 due to lack of resources and the need for men to bring in the harvest.
  • Shortly after, Harald Hardrada and Tostig invaded in the north, capturing York.
• Battle of Stamford Bridge (25 September 1066):
  • Harold marched north, surprised Hardrada and Tostig, and won a decisive victory, but his army was weakened and tired.
• Battle of Hastings (14 October 1066):
  • Both armies were about 7,000 strong, but Harold’s men were tired from previous battles.
  • Harold’s army had a strong defensive position on a ridge, using a shield wall.
  • William’s army included cavalry, archers, and infantry; the Normans used tactics like the feigned retreat.
  • The battle lasted eight hours; the Normans eventually broke the English line, and Harold was killed.
• Key Tactics and Differences:
  • Norman knights were highly trained and used cavalry charges, but struggled uphill.
  • English housecarls formed a disciplined shield wall, effective until it was broken.
  • The fyrd (peasant soldiers) were less experienced and poorly equipped.
  • Norman use of archers and feigned retreats proved decisive.

Establishing and Maintaining Control

• Securing the Throne:
  • After Hastings, William marched through southern England, building castles and taking key cities.
  • He was crowned King of England on Christmas Day, 1066.
  • William appointed trusted allies as Marcher Earls to control the borders, especially with Wales.
• Castles:
  • Castles were built in strategic locations to control towns, roads, and river crossings.
  • They served as military bases, symbols of Norman power, and means to suppress rebellion.
  • Most castles were motte-and-bailey designs, built quickly using forced English labor.
• Dealing with Rebellions:
  • Early revolts (1067–68) broke out in regions like Mercia, Kent, Exeter, and Northumbria.
  • William responded with a mix of leniency and force, building more castles and replacing rebellious leaders.
  • Further rebellions (1069–75) included uprisings in York, Danish invasions, and the Revolt of the Earls.
  • William paid the Danes to leave and used brutal tactics, such as the Harrying of the North, to crush resistance.
• The Harrying of the North:
  • In 1069–70, William destroyed homes, crops, and livestock in northern England to prevent further rebellion and Viking support.
  • The devastation led to mass starvation, depopulation, and long-term economic damage.
  • The act was criticized even by contemporaries and marked a turning point in Norman control.

Life Under the Normans

• Feudal System:
  • William formalized and expanded the Anglo-Saxon system of land ownership into feudalism.
  • The king granted land to tenants-in-chief (barons, bishops, abbots), who provided knights and military service in return.
  • Knights held land from tenants-in-chief and owed military service, usually for 40 days per year.
  • Peasants (freemen, villeins, bordars, cottars) worked the land; villeins were bound to the land and needed permission to leave or marry.
  • Slavery declined under Norman rule, partly due to Church disapproval and economic reasons.
• Changes in Land Ownership:
  • By 1086, most land was owned by Normans, concentrating power in the hands of those loyal to William.
  • The king used patronage to reward followers and control succession through primogeniture (eldest son inherits).
• Military Service:
  • The feudal system ensured a steady supply of knights for the king’s army and for garrisoning castles.
  • Marcher Lords on the Welsh border had special privileges to defend against Welsh raids.
• Village Life:
  • Most people lived in rural villages, farming land for a lord.
  • Rents increased, and many freemen became villeins.
  • The Normans built stone churches and water mills, and Forest Law restricted access to hunting and resources.

The Norman Church and Monasticism

• Church Reforms:
  • The Anglo-Saxon Church was reformed by St Dunstan and later by Lanfranc, who was appointed by William.
  • Lanfranc introduced reforms to improve discipline, build new churches, and align the English Church more closely with Rome.
  • The Church played a key role in supporting Norman rule and legitimizing William’s authority.
• Monasticism:
  • The Normans introduced new monastic orders and reformed existing monasteries.
  • Monasteries became centers of learning, culture, and economic activity.
  • The Church owned a significant portion of land and was a major influence in society.

The Domesday Book

• Purpose and Content:
  • Commissioned by William in 1085 to survey land, property, and resources across England.
  • The survey recorded who owned land, its value, resources (ploughs, mills, fisheries), and population (freemen, villeins, slaves).
  • Used to confirm Norman land ownership, assess taxes, and determine military resources.
  • The Domesday Book helped resolve legal disputes over land and was considered final and authoritative.
  • It was completed in under a year and covered most of England except London and some northern areas.

Skills and Practice

• Exam Techniques:
  • Develop skills in interpreting sources, evaluating different interpretations, and constructing narrative accounts.
  • Practice explaining the importance of events, analyzing the historic environment, and answering exam-style questions.
• Practice Questions:
  • Cover a range of topics, including the causes and impact of the Norman Conquest, the role of castles, the feudal system, Church reforms, and the significance of the Domesday Book.
  • Use practice questions to test understanding and prepare for the types of questions that may appear in the exam.