Norman reforms of English monasticism
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the changes brought about to English monasteries.
Key learning points
- As well as his Church reforms, Lanfranc also oversaw reform of English monasteries.
- English monasteries grew in number and size under the Normans.
- The Normans introduced Cluniac monasteries to England.
- English abbots were replaced with Normans.
Keywords
Liturgy - the prayers and rituals regularly carried out together by a religious community or religious group
Monastery - a community of monks; the term monastic and monasticism relate to monasteries
Constitution - a set of principles and legal decisions which people agree to follow
Celibate - not having sexual relationships, usually for religious reasons
Order - in this context, groups of monks or nuns who live together as a religious community, following a set of rules for that order
Common misconception
Monks were all poor.
Although individual monks gave up all their possessions, Norman monasteries were often extremely wealthy because they held very large amount of land granted to them by the king or Norman barons and knights.
Teacher tip
The history of nunneries in Norman England is very interesting, with many women choosing to become nuns to escape the changes that Normans brought to English women's lives after the conquest. A popular historical charity has excellent online resources on this topic.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The Reform Papacy was a movement in the Church that aimed to address and improve the spiritual authority of the Church.
Q2.Controversially, the said that the pope had the right to depose kings and emperors.
Q3. agreed to support William's invasion of Normandy.
Q4.The papacy saw the English Church as needing...
Q5.The Holy Roman Emperor, Henry IV was after disagreeing with the Pope about who should appoint the next bishop of Milan.
Q6.In the German city of Worms, a Concordat agreed a compromise between the papacy and __________ V.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Monks spent long periods chanting and singing the together.
Q2.St Benedict's rules said that...
Q3.In 1082, William of Saint-Calais replaced married church clerks with...
Q4.Around 1077, Lanfranc issued his monastic...
Q5.There were __________ Benedictine monasteries in England in 1066.
Q6.By the end of William’s reign, only __________ English abbots remained in office
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Norman reforms of English monasticism, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Norman reforms of English monasticism, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the British Depth Study: Norman England, c1066–c1100 unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.