Starter quiz
- Which word describes having many mountains?
- 'mountainous' ✓
- Complete the sentence: The combination of mountains, ______ land and strategic rivers made Wales an attractive location to the Norman settlers.
- 'fertile' ✓
- Complete the sentence: Wales' long ______ has always been important for communication and trade.
- mountain range
- rivers
- coastline ✓
- grasslands
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- Which Welsh kingdom was in the north and included modern-day Snowdonia?
- Deheubarth
- Gwent
- Gwynedd ✓
- Powys
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- Why was Saint David’s monastery important?
- It became a centre of prayer and of strict observance of Roman rules.
- It became a centre of learning and of strict observance of monastic rules. ✓
- It became a centre of worship and of relaxed observance of monastic rules.
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- What did some societies begin to construct on elevated ground prior to the Romans’ arrival in Wales?
- motte-and-bailey castles
- cathedrals
- stone keep castles
- hill forts ✓
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Exit quiz
- Which word was the name given to the border lands between England and Wales?
- 'Marches' ✓
- Which word describes a series of military operations, usually with the aim of defeating an enemy?
- 'campaign' ✓
- Why was the kingdom of Gwynedd arguably the strongest Welsh kingdom in the 11th century?
- Its mountainous landscape provided a strong set of natural defences. ✓
- It included the island of Anglesey which had rich and fertile farmlands. ✓
- It had motte-and-bailey castles in every corner to aid defence.
- It included the largest river in Wales so controlled the water supply.
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- When did Gruffydd ap Llywelyn become king of Gwynedd?
- 1039 ✓
- 1052
- 1055
- 1063
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- Which of the following were Norman innovations that Ralph the Timid introduced to the defences of Hereford?
- a stone keep castle
- soldiers fighting on horseback ✓
- a motte-and-bailey castle ✓
- soldiers in shield wall formation
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- What happened to Wales following Gruffydd’s death?
- No change took place to the kingdoms.
- The kingdoms divided back into smaller kingdoms. ✓
- Some kingdoms merged further to create one kingdom.
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- By the middle of the 11th century, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn was the most powerful figure in Wales.
- In the 1050s, Ralph the Timid, a Norman, was Earl of Hereford.
- In 1055, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn attacked Hereford and defeated its defenders.
- Harold and Tostig Godwinson led a military campaign against Gruffydd ap Llywelyn.
- Gruffydd ap Llywelyn was killed and power in Wales was again divided amongst smaller kingdoms.
Common misconception
Before the Norman invasion in 1066, castles were unknown in Anglo-Saxon England.
In fact, Ralph the Timid built a motte-and-bailey castle in Hereford to guard the city against attacks from Wales.
Keywords
Marches - the name given to the border lands between England and Wales
Campaign - a series of military operations, usually with the aim of defeating an enemy
Exile - being banned from living in your native country, usually for acting against those in charge
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