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Year 6

York's importance to the Vikings

I can explain why York was important to the Vikings.

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New
New
Year 6

York's importance to the Vikings

I can explain why York was important to the Vikings.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. York, a major settlement in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria, was captured by the Vikings in 866 CE.
  2. It was an important strategic location between the Ouse and Foss rivers, making it easy to defend and good for trade.
  3. The Vikings restored the old Roman walls and it quickly became the main Viking city in Britain.
  4. The Vikings called it Jorvik, which was also the name they used for their kingdom in Britain.

Common misconception

Pupils may think York was only strategically important because the rivers acted as a natural defence.

York was strategically important because the rivers were a natural defence, but they were also key routes for trade.

Keywords

  • Strategic - if something is strategic it is important for success in war or defence

  • Invasion - invasion means to enter a country armed and capture it

  • Jorvik - the Vikings renamed York when they captured it to Jorvik

You could create a model with pupils which highlights the strategic location of York between the River Ouse and River Foss.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

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).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the correct meaning of 'excavate' in history?
to design and build new structures
to use books and sources to study and learn about history
Correct answer: to remove earth carefully from an area to find buried remains
to draw or create maps of ancient places
Q2.
What is the correct word to describe something in history that is protected from loss and damage?
peaty
Correct answer: preserved
organic
ancient
Q3.
Match the archaeological method to the correct description.
Correct Answer:aerial photography,finding archaeological sites that are only visible from the air

finding archaeological sites that are only visible from the air

Correct Answer:field walking,finding artefacts brought to the surface through farming

finding artefacts brought to the surface through farming

Correct Answer:surveying,finding underground archaeological sites

finding underground archaeological sites

Q4.
In what city did the Coppergate discovery happen?
Correct Answer: York, york
Q5.
What historical period were the artefacts found at Coppergate from?
The Roman era
The Medieval period
Correct answer: The Viking Age
The Stone Age
Q6.
How many archaeological finds from the Viking period were discovered during the Coppergate excavation?
400
4000
Correct answer: 40, 000
none

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
When did the Vikings invade York?
Correct Answer: 866 CE, 866 ce, 866
Q2.
What two reasons made York easier to invade?
The leaders were weak.
Correct answer: The town was vulnerable to attack.
Correct answer: There was civil war going on in Northumbria.
The Vikings had a large army.
Q3.
Which two rivers was York located between?
River Euphrates and River Tigris
Correct answer: River Ouse and River Foss
River Nile and River Congo
River Thames and River Severn
Q4.
Why was York a good strategic location for the Vikings?
It was a nice place to live.
Correct answer: It was easy to defend.
It was easy to travel to.
Correct answer: It was good for trade.
Q5.
Why did the Vikings change the Anglo-Saxon name for York?
Correct answer: It was too hard for them to pronounce.
They did not like the Anglo-Saxon name.
They wanted the name to have a different meaning.
They wanted to show off that they had successfully invaded.
Q6.
Match the keyword with the correct definition.
Correct Answer:strategic,something that is important for success in war or defence

something that is important for success in war or defence

Correct Answer:invasion,means to enter a country armed and capture it

means to enter a country armed and capture it

Correct Answer:Jorvik,the name given to York by the Vikings

the name given to York by the Vikings

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