feudal refers to a hierarchical social system where people receive land to live and work on from those higher than them, and in return have to work and fight for them

paying homage was to publicly submit and swear an oath of fealty (loyalty) to someone above you in the feudal system

an overlord in the feudal system was someone who granted land in return for service

a vassal in the feudal system was someone who provided a service (e.g. labour) to an overlord in return for land

a fief was a parcel of land given by an overlord to a vassal in return for their service to their overlord

The Norman feudal system

History

Anglo-Saxon kingship

Edward the Confessor, the Godwins and William of Normandy

Edward the Confessor's death and the claimants to the throne

Battle of Stamford Bridge

Battle of Hastings

Reasons for William's victory in 1066

The submission of London in 1066

Establishing control: new earls and earldoms

Establishing control: motte-and-bailey castles

Revolts against William I, 1067-1075

The Harrying of the North, 1069-70

William's consolidation of power

Key figures in the government of Norman England

Land and inheritance in Norman England

Domesday Book

Justice and the legal system in Norman England

Continuity and change in Norman government

Life in towns in Norman England

Life in villages in Norman England

The built environment of Norman England

Work and diet in Norman England

Changing laws in Norman England: Forest law

Daily life in Norman England

The Anglo-Saxon Church

Lanfranc's reforms

The king and the Church in Norman England

The Reform Papacy

Norman reforms of English monasticism

The Norman Church

In this unit, pupils study an aspect of British medieval history in depth. They learn about the social, economic, religious and political events that influenced the lives of those who lived in this period.

British Depth Study: Norman England, c1066–c1100

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of violence or fighting, including threats of violence or the aftermath of violence.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Which of these definitions is the best for the term 'continuity'?

Which of these key terms refers specifically to a parcel of land which carried obligations for the landholder?

the ability of some landholders to buy and sell their land freely

the monarch's ability to grant land to reward their followers

the importance of the Church as a major landholder

Which of these continued largely unchanged between Anglo-Saxon society and society in Norman England?

Which of these positions in the Norman feudal hierarchy describes a type of peasant?

The right of an overlord to take land away from disloyal tenants was known as {{}}.

forfeiture gave him the power to punish those who disobeyed him

homage involved an oath to 'be William's man'

knight service meant William was provided with well-equipped troops

labour service provided food for those who did not farm for themselves

landownership by the king meant William could grant land as a reward

In which of these ways did the feudal system increase loyalty to William?

In what month and year was William crowned king of England?

Which of these Anglo-Saxon earls were also earls in Norman England?

Who did William make Earl of Kent and then the first Marcher earl of Hereford?

The term {{}} means someone appointed to govern a country while the monarch is away or too ill to govern.

Which tenant-in-chief and regent of England fell out of favour with William for trying to make himself Pope and ended up in prison until William I's death?

Which of these key individuals helped defeat the Revolt of the Earls before it became a threat to William's rule of England?

Starter Quiz

In what month and year was William crowned king of England?