Starter quiz
- What is the name of an important source for the study of the Battle of Hastings, made as an embroidery on linen?
- 'Bayeux Tapestry' ✓
- Who led the Normans when they invaded Britain in 1066?
- William the Conqueror ✓
- Edward the Confessor
- Harold Godwinson
- Harald Hardrada
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- Which of the statements below provides the best definition of a barbarian, as seen by the Romans?
- people outside the Roman Empire who were perceived as uncivilised ✓
- people outside the Roman Empire who were perceived as civilised
- people outside the Roman Empire who were perceived as dangerous
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- Match the words with their definitions.
- Invasion⇔when a country enters another with the intention of occupying it ✓
- Empire⇔a large area often made up of different territories and peoples ✓
- Power⇔the ability to influence, control, or direct the behaviour of people ✓
- Which statement below is the best definition of migration?
- the process of moving from one place to another with the intention to settle ✓
- the process of moving across international borders
- escaping from war
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- Which statement below is the best definition of settlement?
- a temporary movement of people to a new place
- the process of establishing a community in a new location. ✓
- the process of moving from one place to another
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Exit quiz
- Match the words with their definitions.
- earl⇔leading member of aristocracy, ruling an earldom on behalf of the king ✓
- thegn⇔a lower member of the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy ✓
- aristocracy⇔a class of people who hold high social rank ✓
- This word is a system in which people are put at various levels or ranks according to their importance.
- 'Hierarchy' ✓
- Where did the Anglo Saxons come from?
- Western Europe
- Southern Europe
- Northern Europe ✓
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- Select two members of the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy.
- earls ✓
- thegns ✓
- slaves
- peasants
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- Which statements best describes the movement within the Anglo Saxon hierarchical system?
- It was a fixed system and people always stayed at the same level in society.
- A hard-working and lucky peasant could gain land and climb up the hierarchy. ✓
- Through the loss of land, earls could drop down to the level of a thegn. ✓
- A free peasant could sell themselves into slavery. ✓
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- Which group made up the greatest percentage of the Anglo Saxon population?
- peasants ✓
- thegns
- slaves
- earls
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Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Anglo-Saxons were a group of tribes which settled in England from northern Europe.
- Anglo-Saxon society was hierarchical with the king at the top and slaves at the bottom.
- The aristocracy included the earls who helped the king to govern the country.
- The majority of society lived in villages and were peasant farmers.
- Anglo-Saxon society was not fixed.
Common misconception
Roles were fixed in Anglo-Saxon society - a peasant would always be a peasant.
Anglo-Saxon society was more open to social mobility: a hard-working peasant could gain more land and become a thegn, some slaves became free and an earl could even become king!
Keywords
Earl - an earl was a leading member of both Anglo-Saxon and Norman aristocracy, ruling an earldom on behalf of the king
Thegn - a thegn was a lower member of the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy; they were warrior lords holding smaller areas of land than an earl
Aristocracy - the aristocracy is a class of people who hold high social rank, often inheriting their status and wealth
Hierarchy - a hierarchy is a system in which people are put at various levels or ranks according to their importance
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