Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060-88 | Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0)

Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060-88

135 questions
12 subtopics
Paper 2
Paper 2

Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88 is examined in Paper 2, Period study and British depth study.

It covers Anglo-Saxon government, economy and society, the last years of Edward the Confessor and the succession crisis, the rival claimants for the throne, the Norman invasion, 1060–66, Establishing control, 1066–87, Anglo-Saxon resistance, 1068–71, the legacy of resistance to 1087, revolt of the Earls, 1075, the feudal system and the Church, Norman government, 1066–88, the Norman aristocracy, 1066–88 and William I and the succession.

Sample questions from Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060-88

Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.

Anglo-Saxon government, economy and society

How was England governed below the level of the earls?

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Each shire was split into hundreds, both with their own regular courts, and a shire reeve acted for the king in collecting his dues and enforcing his law.
The last years of Edward the Confessor and the succession crisis

How did the rising against Tostig end?

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Harold Godwinson refused to fight the rebels and persuaded Edward to outlaw his brother, so Tostig went into exile and Morcar was given Northumbria.
The Norman invasion, 1060–66

What happened when part of the Norman army fled early in the battle?

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A rumour spread that William was dead, so he raised his helmet to show his face and rallied his men, and the English who had chased downhill were cut off and killed.
Establishing control, 1066–87

What were the main features of an early Norman castle?

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An earth mound, or motte, topped by a wooden keep, with a walled bailey below holding the stables and stores, and a ditch around the whole site.
The legacy of resistance to 1087

How did the Domesday survey reveal the long-term effects of the Harrying?

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Much of Yorkshire was still recorded as waste in 1086 and worth a fraction of its value before the Conquest.
Revolt of the Earls, 1075

What happened to the three earls afterwards?

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Ralph de Gael escaped to Brittany, Roger de Breteuil was imprisoned for life and lost his lands, and Waltheof was beheaded in 1076.
Norman government, 1066–88

What were a Norman sheriff’s main duties?

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He ran the shire for the king, collecting taxes and royal dues, presiding over the shire court, holding royal castles and raising troops.
The Norman aristocracy, 1066–88

What was Bishop Odo’s role in governing England?

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He acted as regent during William’s absences, held vast estates in many shires and led armies against rebels, including in the north.

The 12 subtopics

One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.

Subtopic	What it covers	Questions
Anglo-Saxon government, economy and society	The powers of the king, the Witan, the four earldoms, shires and hundreds, trial by oath and ordeal, thegns and peasants, burhs, and what the Church did for people and for government.	10
The last years of Edward the Confessor and the succession crisis	The power of the house of Godwin, its exile and return, Harold Godwinson's rise, his visit to Normandy and the oath, the rising against Tostig, and Edward's death in January 1066.	10
The rival claimants for the throne	The claims of William of Normandy, Harald Hardrada and Edgar the Aethling, the Witan's choice of Harold, his coronation and coastal defence, and the battles of Gate Fulford and Stamford Bridge.	11
The Norman invasion, 1060–66	Senlac Hill on 14 October 1066, how the armies were drawn up, the shield wall, William's rally after the early flight, Harold's death, the feigned retreat, criticism of Harold, William's leadership, how the two armies differed and why the timing favoured William.	10
Establishing control, 1066–87	William's march on London and the submissions that followed, his coronation on Christmas Day 1066, rewards for his followers, the Marcher earldoms and their powers, why castles went up so quickly, the motte and bailey design and what a castle did for Norman control.	10
Anglo-Saxon resistance, 1068–71	The revolt of Edwin and Morcar, the northern rebellions of 1069 and the loss of York, Hereward the Wake at Ely, and why the risings were defeated one at a time.	10
The legacy of resistance to 1087	Why William ordered the Harrying of the North, what it involved and cost, its record in Domesday, the transfer of land from English to Norman owners, and the effect on peasants.	10
Revolt of the Earls, 1075	The three earls who led the revolt, their grievances, the Bride's Feast, Waltheof's part, how the rising was crushed while William was in Normandy, and the punishments and changes that followed.	10
The feudal system and the Church	The Norman feudal hierarchy, tenants-in-chief, homage, knight service and subinfeudation, labour service, forfeiture, why feudalism suited a conqueror, the Church's power, Stigand's deposition, Lanfranc and his reforms, Church courts, Normanisation, peasant life, the decline of slavery, what carried on unchanged and the replacement of the landowning class.	19
Norman government, 1066–88	What William kept of English government, how he strengthened the crown and sidelined the earls, the Oath of Salisbury of 1086, regents in his absence, the Norman sheriff, the royal demesne, royal forest and forest law, and the Domesday survey, its name and its use to government.	15
The Norman aristocracy, 1066–88	Norman French and Latin, Norman building and personal names, how a Norman lord spent his time, and Bishop Odo: William's half-brother, his part at Hastings, his role as regent, the Bayeux Tapestry and his imprisonment in 1082.	10
William I and the succession	William's character, his quarrel with his son Robert, the revolt of 1077–80 and its settlement, William's death in 1087, the division of his lands, and the rebellion of 1088.	10

Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060-88 is 135 of the 2,881 questions in the guide.Get the guide, £7

How the guide is worked

Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.

Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.

Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.