Why the Vikings came to Britain | History | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Match the location with the correct description.

Chippenham

⇔

a town where the Vikings almost captured Alfred ✓

Edington

⇔

a town in southwestern England where Alfred defeated Guthrum ✓

Danelaw

⇔

the area that Alfred allowed the Vikings to rule ✓
When did Guthrum begin to attack Wessex?

877 CE ✓

888 CE

878 CE
True or false? King Alfred fled to the marshes and gave up.

True
False ✓
Order these events, starting with the earliest.

1

⇔

Viking King Guthrum began to attack Wessex.

2

⇔

Guthrum launched a surprise attack on Chippenham.

3

⇔

Alfred rode out to challenge Guthrum and the Vikings at Edington.

4

⇔

Alfred was victorious at Edington.
What happened after King Alfred was victorious at Edington?

He drove the Vikings out of Northumbria.

He drove the Vikings out of London. ✓

He drove the Vikings out of Britain.

He drove the Vikings out of East Anglia.
Which statements accurately reflect some parts of the peace agreement between Alfred and Guthrum?

The Vikings had to leave Britain and return to their homeland.

Guthrum had to convert to Christianity. ✓

The Vikings were given some areas of Britain to control. ✓

Alfred had to convert to paganism.

Exit quiz

What is the term given to a rapid surprise attack, usually involving stealing something.

'raid' ✓
What were the main reasons that Vikings raided monasteries?

Because they were near to the coastline. ✓

Because they wanted to learn from the manuscripts.

Beause they contained valuable objects. ✓

Because they wanted to kill monks.
After raiding many places, what did the Vikings then decide to do?

Return to Scandinavia and stop exploring

Invade and settle in Anglo-Saxon kingdoms ✓

Become farmers in their own country

Trade peacefully with other countries
Which statements accurately describe The Great Heathen Army?

It first landed in Northumbria.

It was the biggest Viking army that had ever come to Britain. ✓

It successfully invaded and settled in one of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.

It invaded and settled in three of the four Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. ✓
Order the attacks between King Alfred and the Viking King Guthrum, starting with the earliest.

1

⇔

Viking King Guthrum began to attack Wessex.

2

⇔

Guthrum launched a surprise attack on Chippenham.

3

⇔

Alfred and the Vikings battled in Edington and Alfred was victorious.
What were the areas that Alfred let the Vikings control called?

'Danelaw' ✓

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

The Vikings first came to Britain in small raids on monasteries and these grew more frequent.
The Great Heathen Army came to Britain, bringing lots of Vikings who began to settle on Anglo-Saxon land.
The Great Heathen Army overcame all of the Saxon kingdoms apart from Wessex, which came to be ruled by King Alfred.
Fighting back against Guthrum and the Great Heathen Army, Alfred managed to confine the Vikings to the Danelaw.
A good story of how the Vikings came to settle in large parts of Britain will use knowledge from across this unit.

Common misconception

Pupils may not understand that the Vikings came to Britain for different reasons over a long period of time.

The Vikings first came to Britain to raid monasteries; they then invaded and settled in some Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Finally, they tried to capture all of Britain but were unsuccessful. However, they were able to stay and control the Danelaw.

Keywords

Raid - a raid is a rapid surprise attack, usually involving stealing something
Monastery - a monastery is a building lived in by a community of monks who follow religious vows
Settled - when you are settled you make a permanent home somewhere
Danelaw - the area that Alfred allowed the Vikings to rule was called the Danelaw