The built environment of Norman England | History | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Which word describes the lord of a manor's land which was farmed for him?

'demesne' ✓
Which word describes a peasant who held up to 100 acres of land which they rented from a lord for money?

'freeman' ✓
Match the activities in the farming year with the seasons.

spring

⇔

seeds for crops were sown on the fields ✓

summer

⇔

the crops were harvested ✓

autumn

⇔

the fields were ploughed ✓

winter

⇔

some animals were slaughtered ✓
Complete the sentence: Norman lords worked their villeins ______ than had been the case in Anglo-Saxon times.

'harder' ✓
Match the aspects of village life to whether they show change or continuity after the Norman Conquest.

continuity

⇔

types of crops grown, seasonal farming ✓

change

⇔

fall in the number of freemen, who the lord was ✓

continuity

⇔

housing materials, way villagers lived ✓

change

⇔

number of monasteries, number of enslaved people ✓
What did villagers have to give to the church each year?

'tithe' ✓

Exit quiz

Which word describes the landscape created by buildings and infrastructure like roads and bridges?

'built environment' ✓
Which word describes a group of individuals who live under a religious rule, dedicating themselves to a specific way of life?

'order' ✓
Which of the following does the Romanesque style feature?

delicate flowers

huge stone columns ✓

rounded arches ✓

chevron patterns ✓

slim pillars
In which century did stone castles start to replace wooden ones?

'12th' ✓
Which of the following statements show the purpose of Norman castles?

to defend against Anglo-Saxon rebellions or foreign invasion ✓

to provide Normans with the comforts of home

act as a very visible sign to the Anglo-Saxons that the Normans were in control ✓

to impress the Anglo-Saxons and show them William's wealth and power ✓

to ensure the English built environment all looked the same
Within how many years of the conquest were most church buildings in England being rebuilt?

10

20

30 ✓

50

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

The Normans loved an architectural style known now as Romanesque.
Romanesque style looked back to features of ancient Roman architecture, such as huge stone columns and rounded arches.
Castles were a major change to the built environment; stone replaced timber for building mainly from the 12th century.
Within 30 years of the Norman conquest, most church buildings in England were being rebuilt in Romanesque style.
There were several reasons for the vast programme of rebuilding, including religious reforms and Norman wealth.

Common misconception

The Normans invented Romanesque architecture.

The Normans were enthusiastic adopters of Romanesque building style, but it was developed in northern Italy and France, combining Roman features with elements of Byzantine design.

Keywords

Built environment - the landscape created by buildings and infrastructure like roads and bridges
Romanesque - an architectural style based on features of ancient Roman buildings
Architecture - the design and construction of buildings
Order - a group of individuals who live under a religious rule, dedicating themselves to a specific way of life