History Revision Flashcards
In 1066, who were the claimants to the throne?
Harold Godwinson, William of Normandy, Harald Haardrada, and Edgar Atheling.
When did Edward the Confessor die?
1066
When did the Battle of Fulford Bridge take place?
20th September 1066
Who was involved in the Battle of Fulford Bridge and who won?
Edgar Atheling and Harald Haardrada (who won)
When did the Battle of Stamford Bridge take place?
25th September 1066
Who was involved in the Battle of Stamford Bridge and who won?
Harold Godwinson (who won) and Harald Haardrada
When did the Battle of Hastings take place?
14th October 1066
Who were involved in the Battle of Hastings and who won?
Harold Godwinson and William of Normandy (who won)
What is the Bayeux Tapestry?
The Bayeux Tapestry is a famous embroidery that tells the story of the Norman conquest of England in 1066, culminating in the Battle of Hastings. It is over 70 meters long and depicts the events leading up to and including the battle between William the Conqueror and Harold Godwinson.
What happened in the Harrying of the North?
In order to gain control, William needed to use terror to supress rebellions. Perhaps one of the most famous occasions of William the Conqueror using terror against the Saxons was in the Harrying of the North. It all started with a massive rebellion in the North of England led by Edgar Atheling, starting in 1069. William managed to defeat it by force, however he did not stop at that point. His army rampaged through the North, destroying all the towns and villages, destroying the land and killing anyone who rebelled against them. He then built many castles to control the country. Eventually, it was recorded that a devastating amount of over 100,000 people were brutally killed by the soldiers. William did this because he wanted to send a clear message that anyone who questioned his rule or rebelled against him would be treated very harshly.
How did William build castles?
He introduced Motte-and-Bailey castles to England. These castles were quick to build but not overly strong. He then upgraded to stone keep castles. These had stronger walls and better defences such as murder holes.
How did William change the Church and how did it help with control?
William brought his own men to work in the Church, changed church customs and practices, and built new churches and made physical changes. The Normans introduced strict new rules in the churches for priests - they couldn’t get married, should dress in simple clothes, have their hair cut, and should stay out of pubs. This helped with control as everyone was expected to go to Church and to follow William’s new rules. William appointed an abbot from Normandy called Lanfranc as the Archbishop of Canterbury, which helped with control as it meant that a Norman had the most important Church position. The churches that were built during the reign of William were changed to be heavily influenced by architectural styles used in Normandy so that they resembled Norman churches (Winchester). These were very powerful buildings representing William’s power.
Why did Henry II want Thomas Becket to be the Archbishop of Canterbury?
Henry and Thomas were close friends to start with, and because Thomas helped Henry to rule the country and helped collect taxes, Henry decided to reward him by giving him the position of Archbishop of Canterbury. Henry believed that Thomas would help him to control the Church.
What was Thomas Becket like?
I think that Thomas is kind of gullible and naive, because at Canterbury Cathedral where he was praying, he heard Henry’s knights approaching to kill him, however made no move to escape. Despite his monks telling him to hide, he assumed that they would not harm him inside the church and wanted them to pray with him. This led to his death.
How has King John been viewed throughout History and why?
Tudor historians admired King John for his similarities to Henry VIII. They thought that both Henry and John were powerful kings who showed good leadership skills in dealing harshly with their enemies. Victorian historians, however, were highly critical of King John, as he lost French lands which had been governed by England, and the Victorians despised him for this. They also disliked John because he hated the Magna Carta. 1960s and 1970s historians emphasised John’s positive qualities, his interest in justice and learning, his success in strengthening the navy, and his charity towards the poor. Modern historians have a balanced view of King John; they acknowledge that John faced lots of problems, and that he did have some successes and good qualities, but feel at the same time that there is little evidence that John was a great king, and criticise him for his cruelty and failures.
What was the Magna Carta and what are some of the points that it included?
The Magna Carta was a handwritten Latin document meaning ‘Great charter’, with laws originally for the barons. The barons put this charter together with the aim of stopping their civil war with the King, stopping John from taking too many taxes from them, and making sure that they received a fair trial in court, plus many other laws.
What was the Black Death and how did it spread across England?
In the 14th century, a horrible disease struck Asia, Africa, and Europe. The people called this illness the Black Death. The disease started in Asia in the 1340s. It quickly spread to Africa, and throughout Europe. There were 2 different types of the plague - the bubonic plague, where sufferers developed a fever and buboes (swellings) in the groin and armpit. This came from infected fleas who bit rats who then bit humans; about 70% died, and it took 4-7 days to die. The other type was called the pneumonic plague, which was caught by the germs sprayed out every time a person breathed or coughed out blood. This plague killed everyone infected within 2 days. Overall, the plague killed 75 million people.
What were the effects of the Black Death?
The impact of the Black Death was in some ways good, for example the abundance of food, the decrease in working hours, and higher wages. However, there were quite a few cons as well – for example the decrease in population, the rise of prices for food and livestock, the higher death rates, and the decline of the size of landholdings. However, life was overall a bit better for the remaining people after the Black Death.
What were some advances made by the Islamic world?
The Islamic achievements in medieval medicine (in the 7th century A.D) were groundbreaking. While medieval European medicine was still caught up in superstitions and the rigid teachings of the Church, Islamic scholars and doctors not only translated medical texts from all over the known world (including the Greeks, Romans, Persians, and Indians),but they added their own medical observations and methods. They also developed new techniques in medicine, dissection, surgery and pharmacology. They founded the first hospitals, introduced physician training and wrote encyclopedias of medical knowledge.
Who made the Bayeux Tapestry?
It was created by Normans after the Battle of Hastings, and so it tells the Norman version of the Battle.
Why might the Bayeux Tapestry be unreliable?
The tapestry could be seen as an unreliable source because it only shows the Norman perspective, as it was made by the Normans. It is also based on second-hand accounts, and it took years to make - meaning it might not be accurate.
What was the name of the English council in 1066?
The Witan
Why was Harald Haardrada a good/bad contender to the throne?
He was the King of Norway, so he was experienced. However, he didn’t have a blood claim to the throne.
Why was Harold Godwinson a good/bad contender to the throne?
His father was chief adviser to the king, however Harold had (allegedly) promised William the throne.
