Starter quiz
- How did the feudal system change the social structure compared to the Anglo-Saxon period?
- It allowed for more social mobility.
- It made landowning less secure. ✓
- It was a fixed hierarchy with limited mobility. ✓
- It removed the need for military service.
-
- What is the term for a parcel of land given to a vassal in return for service to their overlord?
- demesne
- feudal
- fief ✓
- vassal
-
- Fill in the blank with the correct word: Tenants-in-chief would grant land to their loyal knights. In return, the knights would help them control the land and provide ______ service.
- 'knight' ✓
- What were the obligations of holding land under the feudal system?
- knight service ✓
- labour service ✓
- paying homage ✓
- paying no inheritance fee
-
- Why was the feudal system important for maintaining William's authority?
- It provided greater freedoms for peasants.
- It provided regular soldiers. ✓
- It provided regular sums of money to William. ✓
-
- Match the titles in the feudal hierarchy to their roles.
- king⇔owned all the land in England ✓
- tenants-in-chief⇔vassals who received very large fiefs direct from the king ✓
- knights⇔were required to fight for their overlord in return for their fief ✓
- peasants⇔provided labour service for their overlord ✓
Exit quiz
- What term do historians use for the process of making something more similar to or typical of Norman styles, beliefs, customs?
- Anglification
- Deanglification
- Normalisation
- Normanisation ✓
-
- By 1088, how many Anglo-Saxon bishops were still in office (not replaced by Normans)?
- one ✓
- two
- three
- four
- five
-
- Which of these explain why William was keen to have influence over the Church in England?
- The Church was poor and lacked influence.
- The Church was rich and influential. ✓
- The Church could support William's claim to be the legitimate king. ✓
- The Church could forgive William for trying to seize the throne.
-
- Which of these are reasons why the Normans wanted to reform the English Church?
- Anglo-Saxon saints were not all considered to have been saintly enough. ✓
- Anglo-Saxon Christians did not respect the pope.
- Priests, monks and nuns in England were not following a spiritual way of life. ✓
- Too much money had been spent on building expensive stone churches and abbeys.
-
- Complete this sentence: Excommunicated and accused of pluralism and simony, the Archbishop of Canterbury who had been a close advisor of the House of Godwin was called ______.
- 'Stigand' ✓
- Which statement below best describes the reforms introduced by Lanfranc?
- Lanfranc’s reforms introduced a greater separation from non-religious life. ✓
- Lanfranc’s reforms introduced more Gregorian chants in church services.
- Lanfranc’s reforms introduced the idea of allowing priests to marry.
-
Worksheet
Loading worksheet ...
Presentation
Loading presentation ...
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- The medieval Church was a powerful and influential institution, which William used to spread Norman control in England.
- William reformed the Church arguing it was in moral decline. It is likely he saw the leadership as a threat to his rule.
- Most Anglo-Saxon bishops were replaced with Normans, and Lanfranc was appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury.
- Lanfranc oversaw a programme of church-building, and bishops were transferred from villages to cities.
- Lanfranc’s other reforms included introducing more discipline and a greater separation from non-religious life.
Common misconception
Medieval and modern Church power is equivalent.
Explicitly outline the Church's organisational power: land ownership, clergy social status, and spiritual authority.
Keywords
Normanisation - Normanisation is the process of making something more similar to or typical of Norman styles, beliefs, customs, etc.
Reform - reform is when you make changes to improve something
Simony - simony is the buying or selling of advantages or paid positions in the Christian Church, which was considered to be a sin
Pluralism - pluralism is the practice of holding more than one religious office at the same time
+