New
New
Year 5

How Britain changed after the Romans

I can describe how Britain changed after the Romans left.

New
New
Year 5

How Britain changed after the Romans

I can describe how Britain changed after the Romans left.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Without the Roman legions to defend it, Germanic tribes invaded and quickly settled across Britain.
  2. They established seven great Anglo-Saxon kingdoms that rivalled one another.
  3. By the late 8th century Mercia was the most powerful kingdom following the rule of Offa and Cynethryth.
  4. Christianity withered away, but returned in the 6th and 7th centuries, eventually spreading across Britain.
  5. In Scotland, the Picts were joined by Irish Scots who brought Gaelic culture with them.

Keywords

  • Rivalled - rivalled means to have competed with someone and tried to be better or more successful than them

  • Withered - if something has withered it has gradually declined or shrunk

  • Gaelic - Gaelic is the traditional language and culture of groups such as the Scots and Irish

Common misconception

As Christianity was popular in Roman times before its return, pupils may think this isn't a change.

Due to two forms of Christianity being practiced before the Synod of Whitby, there was a significant change to religion in Britain.

There are lots of modern day country names used in this lesson (Germany, Denmark, Scotland). Ensure that the children know that these places as we know them today were not called this at the time.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What Anglo-Saxon kingdom was ruled by King Offa and Queen Cynethryth?
Northumbria
Kent
Wessex
East Anglia
Correct answer: Mercia
Q2.
What is the Anglo-Saxon term for a king that felt they were the ruler of all of Britain?
Correct answer: Bretwalda
Emperor of Britain
Emperor of England
King of England
Q3.
Where was 'Offa's Dyke'?
on the border between Mercia and Northumbria
Correct answer: on the border between Mercia and the Welsh kingdoms
on the border between Mercia and Wessex
on the border between Mercia and Sussex
Q4.
Starting with the earliest, put these events in chronological order.
1 - The Romans left Britain.
2 - The Anglo-Saxons arrived in Britain.
3 - Mercia became the most powerful Anglo-Saxon kingdom.
4 - The Synod of Whitby happened.
Q5.
What was the only Anglo-Saxon kingdom not conquered by Mercia by 800 CE?
Correct answer: Northumbria
Essex
Kent
Wessex
East-Anglia
Q6.
What is the name given to religious beliefs that differ from the main or recognised religions?
Correct Answer: Pagan, Paganism, pagan, paganism

6 Questions

Q1.
What major event in British history allowed the Anglo-Saxons to migrate and settle in Britain?
the Synod of Whitby
the visit of Augustine
Correct answer: the Romans leaving Britain
the building of 'Offa's Dyke'
Q2.
Which three parts of Europe did the Germanic tribes come to Britain from?
Correct answer: modern-day Germany
modern-day Italy
Correct answer: modern-day Denmark
Correct answer: modern-day Netherlands
Q3.
Match the word to its correct definition.
Correct Answer:rivalled,to have competed with someone to be better than them

to have competed with someone to be better than them

Correct Answer:withered,to have gradually declined or shrunk

to have gradually declined or shrunk

Correct Answer:Anglo-Saxons,the Angles, Saxons and Jutes tribes who arrived after the Romans left

the Angles, Saxons and Jutes tribes who arrived after the Romans left

Q4.
What modern-day British nation did the Picts call home before and during the Anglo-Saxon period?
England
Wales
Correct answer: Scotland
Northern Ireland
Q5.
Starting with the earliest, sort these events into chronological order.
1 - The Romans brought Christianity to Britain.
2 - The Romans left Britain.
3 - The Anglo-Saxons arrived in Britain and brought their pagan beliefs with them.
4 - Christianity withered in Britain.
5 - Augustine and Celtic Christians came to Britain from Rome and Ireland.
6 - There were two forms of Christianity in Britain: Celtic and Roman.
7 - The Synod of Whitby decided everyone would follow Roman Christianity.
Q6.
What is the name given to the traditional language and culture of the Scots and Irish?
Correct Answer: Gaelic, gaelic

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