Norman monastic reform
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how monasteries were involved in Norman religious reforms.
Key learning points
- Monastic life in Norman England was based on the Rule of St Benedict.
- Monasteries were important to Lanfranc's reforms of the English Church.
- As well as his Church reforms, Lanfranc also circulated new monastic rules.
- The Normans introduced Cluniac monasteries to England.
- English abbots were replaced with Normans.
Keywords
Order - in this context, groups of monks or nuns who live together as a religious community, following a set of rules for that order
Liturgy - the prayers and rituals regularly carried out together by a religious community or religious group
Celibate - not having sexual relationships, usually for religious reasons
Constitution - a set of principles and legal decisions which people agree to follow
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.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A is a religious journey to a holy place.
Q2.At which English battle did William de Warenne support William of Normandy?
Q3.The Cluniac monks strictly followed the Rule of St ...
Q4.How did William I reward William de Warenne for his loyalty?
Q5.Where did William de Warenne found his first Cluniac priory in England?
Q6.Castle Acre Priory was a Cluniac priory set up in the county of in East Anglia in 1085.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the words with their correct definitions.
Q2.Write the missing word. Archbishop wanted to see a stricter adherence to Benedictine Rule in England through his religious reforms.
Q3.In Lanfranc's monastic constitutions, the wording of which part of religious services was reformed?
Q4.How many Benedictine monasteries were there in England by 1135?
Q5.The correct term for the head of a monastery which is independent of other monasteries is an ...
Q6.In 1083, English monks at which monastery resisted Lanfranc’s changes to religious services, with tragic consequences?
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Norman monastic reform, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Norman monastic reform, 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 Castle Acre Priory unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.