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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain how trade impacted life in medieval Norwich.

      Key learning points

      1. The wool trade became important for Norwich in the later medieval period.
      2. Herring and other goods had been important items of trade earlier on.
      3. Norwich was an important centre of trade.
      4. Goods were often sent to Europe from the coastal towns.
      5. Textile merchants invested some of their wealth in constructing new buildings around Norwich.

      Keywords

      • Trade - trade involves the buying and selling of different goods

      • Industry - an industry is a type of business or work

      • Merchant - a merchant is a person whose job is to buy and sell goods

      • Textiles - textiles are made by weaving materials like wool and cotton

      • Weaver - a weaver makes textiles from materials like wool.

      Common misconception

      That all people in the medieval period completed the same type of work as one another.

      Remind students that a wide range of different jobs and industries existed in medieval Norwich, even after it focused more on wools.

      Teacher tip

      At the start of learning cycle 2 tell pupils that the suffix 'gate' comes from the Viking word for 'street'. Street names in medieval Norwich included 'Pottersgate' and 'Fisherhgate'. Ask what these names tell us about industries in medieval Norwich.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      True or false? It was not common for women to be leaders in medieval England.

      Correct answer: true
      false

      Q2.
      The main religion in medieval Europe was _______.

      Correct Answer: Christianity, christianity, catholicisim, Catholicisim

      Q3.
      Which king was forced to seal Magna Carta?

      King Edward
      Correct answer: King John
      King Richard
      King William

      Q4.
      Starting with the earliest, sort these periods into the correct chronological order.

      1 - Prehistoric
      2 - Roman
      3 - Norman
      4 - Tudor

      Q5.
      Starting with the earliest, sort these events into the correct chronological order.

      1 - Islamic religion begins to spread
      2 - Normans conquer England
      3 - first Crusade begins
      4 - Magna Carta is sealed

      Q6.
      Starting with the most powerful, sort these groups according to their power in medieval England.

      1 - king
      2 - baron
      3 - knights
      4 - peasants

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the key words with their correct definition.

      Correct Answer:trade,involves the buying and selling of different goods

      involves the buying and selling of different goods

      Correct Answer:industry,a type of business or work

      a type of business or work

      Correct Answer:merchant,person whose job is to buy and sell goods

      person whose job is to buy and sell goods

      Q2.
      Dragon Hall in Norwich was built for what type of person?

      churchman
      king
      Correct answer: merchant
      peasant

      Q3.
      Which industry had the most workers in Norwich at the start of the 14th century?

      bakers
      Correct answer: leather workers
      merchants
      metal workers
      textile workers

      Q4.
      Write the missing word: By the start of the 15th century, the _______ industry was the most successful in Norwich.

      Correct Answer: textile, wool, Textile, Wool

      Q5.
      Which statement about medieval Norwich's trade is most accurate?

      Medieval Norwich only traded with other parts of East Anglia
      Medieval Norwich traded with East Anglia and the rest of England
      Correct answer: Medieval Norwich traded with many areas of England and Europe

      Q6.
      Which statement is most accurate?

      Merchants in Norwich made very little money which they could spend on things.
      Merchants kept all of their money to themselves.
      Correct answer: Merchants spent large amounts of money on constructing new buildings.

      To help you plan your 7 history lesson on: Trade in medieval Norwich, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...