The Norman army
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe key features of the Norman infantry and cavalry.
Key learning points
- The Norman army contained a mix of infantry and cavalry.
- The Norman army was made up of professional soldiers.
- The Norman infantry included foot soldiers and archers.
- The Norman army featured military innovations that were new to England.
- The shield wall needed to be weakened before Norman cavalry could be effective.
Keywords
Infantry - soldiers who fight on foot are known as infantry
Cavalry - soldiers who fight on horseback are known as cavalry
Mercenary - a mercenary is someone who joins a foreign army in order to be paid
Innovation - an innovation is a new way of doing something, based on new ideas or developments
Common misconception
If William had more knights, he would have won the Battle of Hastings more quickly.
Knights may have been less effective against the shield wall than infantry, because the unarmoured horses were vulnerable. They were probably much more effective in later stages of the battle, once the shield wall had been broken up.
Teacher tip
The Bayeux Tapestry is a wonderful source to use in comparing the different features of the Norman and Anglo-Saxon armies. As it was, in all likelihood, embroidered by English women, this might make it more reliable for Anglo-Saxon weapons and armour than for their innovative Norman counterparts.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What were the housecarls?
Q2.A standing army is an army that is ...
Q3.Historians believe there was both a general fyrd and a fyrd.
Q4.Typically, a thegn was equipped with a helmet, a shirt, two shields, two spears and a horse with a saddle.
Q5.The fyrd could be called for up to days.
Q6.What was the standard formation for Anglo-Saxon armies?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word to its definition.
Soldiers who fight on foot
Soldiers who fight on horseback
Someone who joins a foreign army in order to be paid
Q2.Which sort of soldier made up the majority of William's army?
Q3.What shape was the typical Norman soldier's shield?
Q4.Which of these best describes the number of archers in the Battle of Hastings?
Q5.The trained warhorses used by Norman cavalry were called ...
Q6.Norman knights rode in saddles with high ...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: The Norman army, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: The Norman army, 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.
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