YEAR 7 HISTORY

GUIDEBOOK
 History is quite simple really – it is the study of the past! It especially focuses on
humans and the civilisations which we have built over time.

To help us organise and understand the past, we also tend to look at different
themes. These include:

• SOCIAL history which: focuses on things to do with people such

as language, religion and entertainment.

• ECONOMIC themes which focus on things to do with jobs,

money and trade – buying and selling items.

• MILITARY topics which is simply anything to do with wars and

WHAT IS HISTORY?

armies.

• POLITICAL history which is another simple one – this involves

power, government and laws.

CHRONOLOGY means the arrangement of dates and events into the order which they
happened. However, to help us do this we have some important language that we use
HOW DO HISTORIANS ORGANISE TIME?

- this is outlined below:

CENTURIES are pretty special to historians as well! We often say that events
happened in a certain century, but what is a century?

Th Hu T U
1 4 5 6

2 15th Century
 EVIDENCE is very important to historians – it is the material we use to help us make
learn and reach conclusion about the past!

However, these are different types of evidence that we can use as historians. These
are:
WHAT IS EVIDENCE?

We can also divide evidence into other categories. This is especially useful for sources.
These categories are:
• WRITTEN • PHYSICAL

• VISUAL • ORAL

KEY WORD DEFINITION

Social Things to do with people such as language, religion, etc..

Economic Things to do with money, jobs, trade and business.

Military Things to do with war and armies.

GLOSSARY CHECKPOINT

Political Things to do with power, government and laws.

Chronology The arrangement of dates into the order that they happened.

Century A period lasting 100 years.

Evidence Material/information used to learn and reach conclusion on the past.

Source Material produced at the time period studied.

3 Interpretation An opinion produced by an historian long after the event.

HOW HAS MIGRATION CHANGED BRITAIN?
400AD TO PRESENT

MIGRATION PREJUDICE & PERSECUTION

 After the end of the Roman Empire, Anglo-Saxon people moved to Britain
from modern day Germany. Over the next 500 years, they turned a group of
EARLY MEDIEVAL
small kingdoms included Mercia and Wessex into one single country. This

(400-1066)
country would be known as England!
However, from the 700s ‘pirate raiders’ arrived; they raided the coast and
took away both food and money but eventually they stayed. These
Scandinavia Vikings came as both invaders and settlers – fighting many ways
against the Anglo-Saxons.

As English trade with Europe grew, more communities migrated to England.

Many were economic migrants - this means that they came for trade and
LATE MEDIEVAL
(1066-1500)

employment. One example of these was the Italians.

However, some came as invaders. In 1066, William the Conqueror arrived from
Normandy in France and quickly took over the country. He would crown
himself as King on Christmas Day. He also brought with him his language and
WHAT IS THE STORY OF BRITISH MIGRATION SINCE 400AD?

his love of hunting!

Europe saw massive changes in religion which led to waves of migration

across the continent. As England had abandoned the Catholic Church, many
RENAISSANCE
(1500-1700)

people moved here to escape persecution. An example is the Huguenouts who

fled France.
Exploration overseas also led to other migrants arriving – some as freeman,
like John Blanke, but many as slaves forced to move against their will.

The growing British Empire came to control almost a 1/3 of the world and
18TH AND 19TH
CENTURIES

this brought many migrants from around the world to the shores of Britain.
Some arrived voluntarily, such as the Irish, due to Britain’s emergence as the
first industrial nation leading to jobs. However, others continued to brought by
force as slaves.

World wars and demands for independence led to the decline of Empire.
After 1945, many migrants from nations such as the Caribbean, India and
20TH AND 21ST
CENTURIES

Pakistan were encouraged to work in Britain. This led to massive movement

to Britain and the arrival of many from the Carribbean known as the
‘Windrush Generation’.
Furthermore, Britain’s membership in the European Union saw more migration
5 for employment – until Brexit.
 Sailing across the North Sea from Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, the
ANGLO-SAXONS arrived on the shores of England in the 5th Century.
They settled the land, becoming
farmers, craftsmen and traders as
well as created five kingdoms (see
map). In fact, we even get the name
England from this group – the ‘Land
of the Angles’ became Angland.
The Anglo-Saxons influenced the
development of language in England.
This language was known as
ENGLISC.
For example, any place names ending
with ‘ton’, ‘ham’, or ‘ing’ were all
created by the Anglo-Saxons. This
would include places like
Northampton and Wolverhampton!
HOW HAVE THE ANGLO-SAXONS CHANGED BRITAIN?

Additionally, we gain our names for the weekdays from them. Monday comes from
’Moon’s Day’, Wednesday from ‘Woden’s Day’ and Friday from ‘Frige’s Day’.
The Anglo-Saxons also introduced religious change; they were converted to Christianity
in 597. They spread the word of God across England, building churches, cathedrals and
monasteries as well as beautiful religious works of art.
The Anglo-Saxons also shaped the culture of England. Art and poems were commonly
produced but the most famous is the epic poem BEOWULF. Shared by storytellers,
this epic poem tells the story of the heroic warrior Beowulf who defends his
homeland against the monster Grendel. When Beowulf kills Grendel, a fight against his
mother – a dragon – follows. These powerful poems shaped many English myths.

KEY WORD DEFINITION

A group of people from Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands who

Anglo-Saxon
migrated to England in the 5th Century.
The language developed and introduced to England by the Anglo-
Englisc
Saxons.
An epic poem created by the Anglo-Saxons that has heroes and
6 Beowulf
monsters.
 In 793AD, monks working at Lindisfarne, Northumbria were surprised by the
appearance of ships that landed on the coast. Hordes of VIKING warriors ransacked
the area, carrying off goods to their homes in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
The Vikings were invaders but from
865, the Vikings began to stay in
England. This led to war with the
Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Alfred the
Great managed to unify the Anglo-
Saxon kingdoms under his control to
fight against the Vikings and after
he defeated them, two kingdoms
were created.
To separate the two, the DANELAW
was created. This led to the north of
England developing different
characteristics to the south.
A Viking kingdom was created in the north, centred around Jorvik (York). At its peak,
it had a population of 10,000 and it connected England to the Viking trading network
that covered Iceland, Greenland and even the Ukraine. Goods flowed into the city,
HOW HAVE THE VIKINGS CHANGED BRITAIN?

increasing its wealth and power.

One difference was in place names - those that include ‘by’ or ‘thorpe’ were founded
by the Vikings. Examples include Scunthorpe. They also developed their own language;
known as OLD NORSE, it contained many words that we use today – such as arm, egg
and same. It also contained words that have evolved – for example, mistaka became
mistake.

KEY WORD DEFINITION

A group of people from Denmark, Norway and Sweden who started

Viking
to migrate to England from the 9th Century.
The area that separated the Anglo-Saxon and Viking kingdoms. It
Danelaw
was created after decades of war.

Old Norse The language of the Vikings that was used in Northern England.
7
 William I invited Jewish people to return to England once he became the
King..

1066
This was because he needed to borrow money. However, it was considered
sinful for Christians to grow rich through loaning money. William therefore
allowed Jewish people returned to England - as money lenders.

The Jewish population of England grew over the period.

Many towns had strong Jewish communities. They played a vital role in the
1100s

English community by providing funds for the building of castles and

cathedrals. They also took on important work such as doctors, goldsmiths, and
cheese-makers!

Jewish successes had led to resentment and jealousy growing amongst the
non-Jewish population of England. Arguments over religion also made
WHAT IS THE STORY OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN BRITAIN?

Christians dislike the Jewish population of England.

1190

When two Jewish people attended the coronation of King Richard II in 1190,
this created tension and led to riots in York. Eventually the Jewish community
were trapped in Clifford’s Tower. They were massacred and all records of
debts to Jews were destroyed.

Persecution against the Jews continued with attacks from Christians common.
LATE 1200s

However, Jewish communities continued to thrive.

Many English people hated owing money to the Jewish community. This
included the King, Edward I, who agreed to expel the Jewish community
rather than pay his debts!

Jews were legally banned from living and working in England but this did not
CENTURIES
14TH – 17TH

mean Jewish communities disappeared – they just stayed secret!

One such group were the Marranos who worked with trading companies like
the East India Company, helping to develop British trade around the world.

Oliver Cromwell, as leader of Britain, allowed the Jewish community officially

1656

back into Britain.

1700S -

The Jewish community have become a critical part of Britain. About 50,000
NOW

8 Jews fought in WW1 with an estimated 370,000 Jews living in Britain today.
 THE IVORY BANGLE LADY In 1901, a stone sarcophagus was
discovered in York. It had rich grave
goods from the late 4th century. The
objects placed in the grave included
bracelets made from local jet and more
exotic ones made of ivory.
The shape of her skull suggests that she had North African ancestry. This was
common and even the Emperor of Rome came from this region.
The skeleton showed she was high class member of the community. It also suggests
that she was born and brought up in the south of Britain, rather than in Africa. This
WHAT IS THE STORY OF AFRICAN MIGRATION TO THE UK BEFORE 1600AD?

means that her family had migrated from Africa and settled into England prior to the
birth of the Ivory Bangle Lady.

THE IPSWICH Discovered in 1993, the remains were buried between 1258 and
MAN 1300.
It is likely that he came from Tunis, North Africa. This is because
the local monastery had been built by Robert Tiptoft, a Crusader
who returned with ‘four captive Saracens’ from Tunis in 1272.
The Ipswich Man’s bones show he died from a spinal abscess that limited his
movement. It is likely during those last years that he was cared for at the Greyfriars
monastery. He was buried in the grounds of the monastery in a single grave; this
shows he was free Christian man as slaves and the non-Christian were not buried liked
this.

There were at least 350 Africans in England during the Renaissance. However, we do
not know from where as they were simply referred as ‘blackamoors’ or the ‘Ethiopian
Negar’.
They settled across the country, ranging from Edinburgh and Hull to Plymouth and
Truro – but larger numbers ended up in the port cities of London, Southampton,
Bristol and Plymouth.
Many worked as domestic servants, but some became financially independent, like
Reasonable Blackman, a silkweaver in 1590s Southwark. Other jobs included musicians,
sailors or actors, as many Africans settled into English life.
Perhaps the most famous African Tudor was John Blanke. A trumpeter for King Henry
VIII, he performed at the birth of Henry’s son. In 1509, he discovered that he was
paid half the wages of other trumpeters and demanded a pay rise. Henry agreed to
9 this and when he married in 1512, Henry even sent a gift of purple gown and hat.
WHAT IS THE STORY OF THE HUGUENOT MIGRATION
Religious conflict dominated 16th and 17th centuries, leading to much death and
persecution for anyone who disagreed with the powerful Catholic Church. One such
group that were persecuted were the Huguenots. They were a group of
PROTESTANTS living in areas of France and the Netherlands – but they were
targeted by the strongly Catholic population of the area.
AND HOW DID IT IMPACT BRITAIN?

In 1572, the French King ordered the execution of leaders from the HUGUENOTS
which led to further massive violence against them. Over the next few weeks, it is
estimated that between 2,000 and 70,000 Huguenots were murdered by French
Catholics. This event became known as St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.
Horrified at the massacre, England welcomed a large number of Huguenots. Charities
and food kitchens were setup to support them. Once here, the Huguenots proved to
be a valuable part of the English community. Many were experienced cloth merchants
so helped expand the growing textiles industry in England. Others helped fund the
cutlery industry in Sheffield and financed the founding of the Bank of England in
1694.
WHY DID WEST INDIANS MIGRATE TO THE UK

WEST INDIAN is a collective

term for people that
originate from the Caribbean.
It consists of island nations
scattered around the
Caribbean Sea, many of
AFTER WORLD WAR TWO?

which were former colonies

of empires in the 18th and
19th centuries.
Following World War Two, jobs and chances in the West Indies were limited as
unemployment grew. Interestingly, due to the British Empire controlling much of the
region, many West Indians had served in the British military during the Second World
War. As a result, many saw Britain as a desirable place to life – one that would
welcome them for the sacrifices they had made during the war.
At the same time, Britain needed workers to staff the NHS, run public transport and
help to rebuild Britain’s bombed cities. The British Government actively encouraged
10 West Indians to migrant to support the recovery.
 KEY WORD DEFINITION

A group of Protestants who lived in France and the Netherlands in

Huguenots
the 16th and 17th Centuries. They were persecuted by Catholics.

A type of Christian that emerged in the 16th Century in protest to

Protestant
the methods of worship employed by Catholics.
GLOSSARY CHECKPOINT

West Indian A collective term for people that originate from the Caribbean

YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• the ‘story’ of what communities have migrated into Britain over the over the
last 2,000 years and how this has impacted Britain.
• what the experience of immigrant communities like the Jewish, Irish and/or
West Indian has been like in Britain.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

• describe how specific migrant communities like the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and
West Indians have impacted Britain over time
UNIT OUTCOMES

• explain why communities like the Huguenots or West Indians have migrated to
the Britain.
• use source material to make valid inferences about Irish migrant experiences.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEFINE THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

Anglo-Saxon Viking Danelaw Huguenot West Indian

11 Englisc Old Norse Beowulf Protestant
JAMES HAWES CLAIMS THAT "THE NORMANS
HAMMERED ENGLAND INTO UNITY". DID THEY
REALLY?
CONQUEST GOVERNMENT MONARCHY

REBELLION & REVOLUTION

 Born around 1028 in Falaise, Normandy (in modern-day France),
William was the illegitimate son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy. His
mother was Herleva, a tanner's daughter. This earned him the
nickname ‘William the Bastard’.
At the age of seven, William became the Duke of Normandy, which meant that he
WHO WAS WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR?

controlled the strongest part of France. During his early years as Duke, William faced
rebellions from Norman nobles who sought to challenge his power. At age 19, he
defeated many of these powerful enemies at the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes (1047) which
showed his military skills and leadership.
To further strengthen his position as Duke of Normandy, William married Matilda of
Flanders in 1053. By marrying Matilda, William secured a friendship with Flanders that
brought resources and support to help William in his next goal – becoming the King
of England.
His desire to be King of England came from his close links to Edward the Confessor,
who lived in Normandy from 1016 to 1041. William claimed that Edward promised him
the English throne in 1051 and this was followed up when Harold Godwinson also
visited Normandy while in exile and promised to support William’s claim.

Harold Godwinson was the Earl of Wessex and one of the most
WHO OPPOSED WILLIAM’S CLAIM TO THE

powerful men in England. However, his family had been banished from
England for a year before forcing their way back and making Edward
the Confessor marry his sister, Edith.
He was a powerful and experienced leader; he was a brave soldier who had crushed
Welsh uprisings in 1063 by chopping off the leader’s head. He also served as the
Deputy King, or Sub-Regulus, which gave him tremendous power. As the only
Englishmen, the important nobles and bishops backed his claim and wrote that King
Edward supported Harold’s right to the crown.

Harald Hardraada was the infamous King of Norway whose name meant
‘hard ruler’ and his nickname was ‘the Ruthless’. He was distantly
THRONE?

related to one of England’s previous kings who had ruled England from
1016 to 1035 and was quite popular with people in the north of England who were also
Vikings.
He was also a powerful and experienced warrior. He was considered one of the most
13 feared soldiers in Europe and was known for being bloodthirsty and tough.
 William had to get the English off the There are TWO themes that helped
top of the Hill. He order some of his William win the Battle – Godwinson’s
soldiers to run away down the hill as if Weaknesses or William’s Skill.
they were retreating. This tactic was • William’s army were well-equipped,
WHY DID WILLIAM WIN AT THE BATTLE OF

known as FEIGNED FLIGHT. Some of well-rested and had a full range of so

the English, thinking they were winning, ldiers including foot soldiers, archers
charged down the hill after the and cavalry.
Normans. • Godwinson had rushed south to fight
William saw this was his chance to win William, marching over 200 miles and
so kept repeating the trick of feigned fighting with no rest. He also had
flight. The English fell for it repeatedly, abandoned his archers
each time weakening the shield wall • William recognised that Godwinson’s
men were not well-trained so used
As the sun set on the 14th October, the tactic known as ‘feigned flight’.
Godwinson was killed and the battle
• Godwinson lost control of his men as
HASTINGS?

lost. Some said he died by an arrow to they charged after the retreating
the eye whilst others reported that he soldiers of William’s army.
was hacked to death.
HOW DID CASTLES HAMMER ENGLAND INTO

HUTS
KEEP
Wooden tower.
The first castles built by William
Homes for soldiers.

MOTTE
were made of wood and took
Large mound of earth
little time to construct. They
DRAWBRIDGE
A risible gate. were known as MOTTE AND
BAILEY castles.
They were intended to keep out
enemies as well as to protect
STOCKADE BAILEY
DITCH people, horses and local
Dug at the base to
Courtyard where keep attackers out.
Strong fence. soldiers live.
treasures. As they were usually
spaced 30 miles apart, William could keep close control of areas.
They were built at key locations around the country to help William protect his new
kingdom. Places like river crossings, roadways and towns were all used as locations
from which the baron could rule an area on behalf of the King.
UNITY?

William built his castles in places that he felt most threatened; at the beginning of
his reign this meant the border regions with Wales but over time this grew to include
anywhere that people opposed him. For example, following a rebellion in 1068 he built
14 a castle at Stafford.
HOW DOES EDGAR ATHELING CHALLENGE THE IDEA
Edgar Atheling was born around 1051 and was the great-nephew of Edward the
Confessor. This meant that he had a strong claim to be the King of England.
Before William the Conqueror was made King of England, Edgar Atheling was declared
king by the remaining Anglo-Saxon nobles in London. However, when William the
Conqueror advanced towards London, they surrendered quickly.
Despite his unsuccessful claim to the English throne, Edgar Atheling managed to
survive and maintained a significant presence in England. Edgar was appointed by
William as an advisor and a marriage to the sister of the Scottish King Malcolm III,
Margaret, was arranged in 1069.
Despite this position of influence, Edgar wanted to push his claim to be the King of
England. Using soldiers from Scotland and the support of the King of Sweden, Edgar
invaded the north of England. He would go onto defeat a Norman army of 3,000 men
and take over the city of York.
OF UNITY?

William’s response was quick and brutal; he paid the King of Sweden to leave and
destroyed the north of England in an event known as the HARRYING OF THE NORTH.

The King was the boss of England! He

HOW DID FEUDALISM HAMMER ENGLAND

defended the country, and passed good

laws as well as owned all land and granted
it to people in return tax or service.
The Barons helped in decision making; but
did not own land now. Instead, they were
granted it by the King in return for a
payment or providing service of knights.
KNIGHTS controlled small areas of land in
return for providing 40 days of service to
INTO UNITY?

per year.
PEASANTS provided labour (work) for the
local knight or baron in return for a small
parcel of land to grow their own food. They
had no freedom and were not allowed to do
anything with the permission of the local
15 lord.
 Following the actions of Edgar Atheling, William took quick
and brutal actions; he destroyed the north of England in an
event known as the HARRYING OF THE NORTH.
HOW DOES THE HARRYING OF THE NORTH

William's forces destroyed crops, livestock, and

infrastructure across the entire north of England. Villages,
towns, and farmlands were laid to waste, leading to famine
and displacement of the local population.
CHALLENGE THE IDEA OF UNITY?

The effects of the famine were long-lasting, with estimates suggesting that the
population of the region was reduced by up to 25%. This meant that an estimated
100,000 people died.
The economy of the north was also destroyed by the Harrying. By 1086, 60% of the
land in Yorkshire had no farming conducted upon it. This shows that the north saw a
massive collapse because of the event.
Whilst it was negative for ordinary people, the Harrying did enforce William’s control.
The Vikings lost support along with the Scottish as people were simply to scared to
support any further rebellions against William due to his brutality.
HOW DID THE DOMESDAY BOOK HAMMER

Starting in December 1085, William the Conqueror ordered that a detailed survey of
land, wealth and assets by completed. Having sent commissioners out to obtain this
information, the book was published in two giant volumes in 1086. It contains records
ENGLAND INTO UNITY?

for 13,418 settlements spread across England. Whilst William did this in order to
support his own efforts to collect tax, the information it contains has become
incredibly useful to historians.
The DOMESDAY BOOK shows us the different types of people who lived in England.
We can see that most of the people were villeins who earned their living by farming.
It also shows that some people lived in towns that were small by today’s standards.
These people worked at different trades or had market stalls.
It also shows us the wealth found in England in the 1080s. The total value of the land
recorded in the survey was about £73,000. In modern money, this would be over
16 £150 million.
HOW DOES HEREWARD THE WAKE CHALLENGE THE

Hereward was born in the town of Bourne, Lincolnshire during the late 11th century.
Over the 1060s, he had grown upset with the rule of William the Conqueror and
launched a rebellion in 1069.
He gathered Anglo-Saxon nobles and commoners together at the Isle of Ely, a
marshy region in eastern England. They established a stronghold on the island and
conducted raids against Norman forces.
The Isle of Ely, with its natural defenses, provided an advantage for Hereward and his
followers. They carried out hit-and-run warfare, ambushing Norman troops, and
attacking supplies.
In 1070, William the Conqueror personally led an attack to crush Hereward's rebellion.
They built a floating pathway across the marshes using boats to attack and destroy
IDEA OF UNITY?

the forces of Hereward.

Following this, Hereward disappeared with little information existing about him after
1070.

17
 KEY WORD DEFINITION
The tactic used by William at the Battle of Hastings that saw
Feigned Flight
him pretend to retreat before launching a counterattack.
A hierarchy introduced by William that gave everyone clear
Feudalism
roles and responsibilities in society under his command.
A position in feudalism that provided 40 days of service a year
Knights
to the King as a warrior fighting on horseback.
The lowest position in feudalism that provided their skills as
Peasants
workers to the people above them in return for land.
GLOSSARY CHECKPOINT

A document produced by William in 1086 that outlined land

Domesday Book
ownership, wealth and other information for the King to use.
A wooden castle built by William to help control England after
Motte & Bailey
the Battle of Hastings.
An event between 1070-1071 in which William brutally destroyed
Harrying of the North
the north of England due to rebellion.

YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• who wanted to be the King of England in 1066.
• what happened at the Battle of Hastings.
• the key features of Norman control: castles, feudalism, Harrying and Domesday.
• the key features of opposition: Edgar Atheling, and Hereward the Wake.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

• explain why William was victorious at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
• explain whether England was “hammered into unity” by the Normans as Hawes
UNIT OUTCOMES

suggests.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEFINE THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

Feigned Flight Feudalism Knights Peasants

Harrying of the
Domesday Book Motte & Bailey
18 North
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO LIVE IN THE MIDDLE AGES?

LIVING CONDITIONS WORKING CONDITIONS RELIGION

 The majority of England were peasants and they spent their time working on farms in
a SUBSISTENCE lifestyle. This means that relied on themselves to survive; usually by
producing just enough of their own food to survive.
Two types of farming existed – ARABLE and PASTORAL. Arable
focused on the growth of crops such as wheat and barley whilst
WHAT WAS WORKING LIFE LIKE IN THE

pastoral involved the rearing of animals such as sheep.

A peasants’ life was driven by the seasons. In spring, they would plough fields and
sow seeds whilst in autumn, they would harvest the crop they laid earlier in the year.
Summer jobs included shearing sheep, weeding the fields and hay-making. Ultimately,
they worked long days, all year round!
The working day lasted from dawn to dusk, in summer it would reach be 16 hours but
in winter only 8! However, the day was broken into chunks built around breaks -for
breakfast, lunch, an afternoon nap and dinner.
MIDDLE AGES?

As part of FEUDALISM, peasants had to work for the lord; this involved ploughing his
land one day a week along with other jobs such as weeding, hay-making and mending
fences for two additional days a week. At harvest time, this would increase to five
days a week!
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE RICH AND POOR IN

Most people ate what they grew - if they didn’t grow enough, they starved.. This
meant that their diet consisted mainly of:
• Cereals – wheat for bread, barley for brewing, porridge oats.
• Vegetables - carrots, parsnip, cabbages, peas, beans and onions.
• Fruit - such as apples, cherries and plums
Meat like beef was usually for the rich. Instead, most would eat pork and fish as both
were more available.. Beyond this the diet was quite boring.
THE MIDDLE AGES?

As most of the population lived in villages, buildings generally followed the same style.
The walls of houses were made of wood and woven together small wooden branches
covered in a mix of mud, straw, horse hair and animal dung. Roofs were thatched with
straw or reeds. It was also common for animals to share the one room in a house!
The only structures found in villages and rural locations that were made from stone
were those that linked to power and rank. For example, the local lord may have built
his mansion out of stone but the main one that dominated the skyline was the
Church.
20
 WHAT WERE TOWNS LIKE IN THE MIDDLE AGES?

Towns had freedom as a result of buying the land from a local lord. This freedom was
written down on a special document known as. CHARTER. It also gave towns the right
to have a mayor and council to make key decisions like spending. By 1400, 300 towns
had a charter including London.
Most towns had markets in which a variety of goods were available to buy. This could
include common items like iron and wheat but also more exotic goods like spices from
Asia and silver. The main roads all flowed towards the market, making it the centre of
the town. This highlights the importance of trade to the town..
Traders and smiths were very important in towns as the supported the markets. They
would organise into their own groups – known as GUILDS. Every town would have a
guildhall where they would meet to discuss important matters. Some guilds even had
more power than the mayor!
WHY WAS THE CHURCH SO IMPORTANT IN

The Church placed great emphasis on the afterlife and taught that, through God,
ETERNAL SALVATION was possible. That taught that by living a life as free of SIN as
possible, showing repentance and accepting Jesus Christ, a soul could be saved and
enter Heaven. However, things like theft and greed were seen as sins which could
impact the ability of a soul to enter Heaven. This meant the Church influenced the
behaviour of all people.
THE MIDDLE AGES?

The PARISH (community) church was the centre of village life. People went for a
variety of reasons including news, education, markets, protection and worship. Each
had a priest who gave the Sunday services, heard confessions, gave forgiveness,
visited the sick and gave shelter, clothing and food to the poor. The most important
events in life would also take place in the parish church; baptism, marriage and burial
were all done

21
 PILGRIMAGES were special journey’s to places such as Walsingham in England and
Jerusalem in the Middle-East. These places were the home of shrines to important
saints within the Church. They were undertaken to show regret for sin but meant
many travelled the world, seeing wonders as a result.
WONDER OR MISERY TO THE LIVES OF THE

Whilst going on a pilgrimage took people to key religious locations, the journey to
DID THE MIDDLE AGE CHURCH BRING

them was often long, dangerous and expensive. Pilgrims were often the target of
thieves and conmen – many of whom would sell fake relics such as the bones of a
saint.
Religious buildings were built to be magnificent – reminding the public of the glory
and power of God. Often they were the only stone buildings in a community,
intricately designed and filled with expensive objects so as to represent the wonder
the Church brought to life.
The Church controlled ideas. They taught God was responsible for everything – the
laws that governed the world, determining guilt or innocence in a trial and even why
people got ill. They also strongly discouraged any questioning of this order – even
PEOPLE?

arresting those who did! However, they were the only group to provide education
through universities.

Baghdad was an international centre; people from

Persia, Turkey, India and many other places all lived
and mixed together to give the city a diverse,
HOW SIMILAR/DIFFERENT WAS LIFE

multi-cultural feel.
It was a centre of trading and home to many merchants. However, it was also home
to countless numbers of poor people.
Many of the people in Baghdad worked for the CALIPH. The Caliph was the chief
leader of the Muslim community and held great political, economic and religious
influence. In the countryside around Baghdad, most people were farmers. In the city,
jobs were varied ranging from canal-diggers to weavers and water-carriers.
ELSEWHERE?

All homes tended to look very basic, even those of the rich. This was because people
hid how rich they were so as to avoid paying tax. This meant homes of both the rich
and poor looked very similar from the outside.
HARISA was dish for both the rich and the poor, making it incredibly popular. It
consisted of boiled meat with chicken and herbs. It was sold by market vendors and
22 was often the first dish at weddings,
 KEY WORD DEFINITION
Arable Farming Farming focused on the growing of crops like wheat.

Pastoral Farming Farming focused on the rearing of animals like sheep

Subsistence Producing just enough of their own food to survive.

Charter Document giving a town special rights like a mayor or market.

Guild A group of people who have the same profession.

GLOSSARY CHECKPOINT

Parish A small area with a church.

Eternal Salvation By committing no sin, repenting and God you went to Heaven.

Pilgrimage Undertaking a journey to a special religious site.

Caliph The leader of the Muslim community in medieval Baghdad.

Harisa Boiled meat and herbs served to all in medieval Baghdad.

YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• what working and living conditions were like in England during the Middle Ages.
• what role and function the Church played in the Middle Ages.
• what life was like in Medieval Baghdad.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

• describe what working life was like for the poor/peasants in the Middle Ages.
• identify and describe similarities/differences between the lives of the rich/poor,
towns/villages and those in Europe/Baghdad.
UNIT OUTCOMES

• explain the importance of religion to the people of the Middle Ages

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEFINE THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

Arable Pastoral
Subsistence Charter Guild
Farming Farming
Eternal
23 Parish Pilgrimage Caliph Harisa
Salvation
EXPLORING LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL

RELIGION LOCAL HISTORY

 Lichfield Cathedral was originally founded in 700 AD by Chad, the Bishop of Mercia.
The initial structure was likely a wooden building constructed on top of a holy site
where early Christians were killed.

In the 9th century, the Anglo-Saxons replaced the original wooden structure with a
stone building. Lichfield Cathedral also grew as a centre of learning and worship.

After 1066, the Normans rebuilt the Cathedral in the new Norman-style of architecture
before undergoing further changes over the 13th Century to a Gothic style. This
included the central spire which made it one of the tallest cathedrals in England.

Over the 16th Century, England underwent massive religious change and this had
impacts on Lichfield Cathedral. It saw ornaments and decorations all removed as well
as a decline in importance.

During the English Civil War in the 1640s and 1650s, the Cathedral became a military
base for supporters of the King. It was chosen as it was already surrounded by a ditch
and defensive walls. However, the central spire was demolished during an attack in
1643 along with all the stained glass being smashed.

Over the 18th and 19th centuries, Lichfield Cathedral underwent major restorations The
architect Sir George Gilbert Scott led the project, which aimed to return it to what it
looked like in the 13th Century. This included ornate carvings of kings, queens and
saints.
EXPLORING LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL

During World War Two, the Cathedral played a major role as a centre of evacuees
alongside remaining a place of worship for military personnel.
A diagram showing the inside of Lichfield
Cathedral.

25
 WHY IS TIMBUKTU CONSIDERED THE ‘JEWEL’ OF
THE MIDDLE AGES?

LIVING CONDITIONS WORKING CONDITIONS DIVERSITY

 A ‘Jewel’ would be considered something that
is fantastic. It shows the best of a country,
community or culture.

A ‘golden age’ is similar to the idea of a ‘jewel’.

It reflects a period when a country, community
or culture are at their best and most beautiful.

MANSA MUSA ruled the MALI EMPIRE during

a period known as a 'golden age’. This empire is
shown in the map to the right.

Timbuktu holds a special place in the history of West Africa – mainly because of its
location. Founded along the River Niger at the point before it flows into the Sahara
WHY IS TIMBUKTU CONSIDERED A 'JEWEL' OF THE MIDDLE AGES?

Desert, it was a natural meeting point. Its position connected the north and south of
West Africa, leading to a marketplace growing that sold a variety of goods.

Trade formed a key part of the Mali Empire and was vital to Timbuktu. The Empire
produced large quantities of gold, copper and salt from mines as well as cotton and
leather from farming. This drew traders to the city from as far away as Europe, India,
Persia and, even, China. This meant that silks from China, knives and hand tools from
Europe and Persian jewellery were often for sale in the markets of Timbuktu.

The wealth of the Mali Empire came to the world’s attention in 1324 when Musa
performed the HAJJ to Mecca. He is believed to have taken 60,000 men with him
and gave away so much gold in Cairo, he crashed the economy!

During his journey to Mecca, Musa Musa also focused on the sciences and
recruited many great thinkers. This arts. He established the University of
included Abu Ishaq As-Saheli, who Sankoré, which gathered together the
designed many buildings in Timbuktu. great minds of Africa and beyond. Books
One building was the royal palace; it also grew in popularity, leading to book
was a large, square, stone structure traders making large profits
that was different from the round Grand religious structures were also built.
clay buildings traditionally found. Walls
This included the Great Mosque but also
were decorated with intricate
smaller mosques that helped educate the
FRESCOES in bright colours which community, encouraging the use of
attracted tourists from all over the
ARABIC as the common language of the
27 world. area.
 KEY WORD DEFINITION

The Emperor of the Mali Empire between 1312 and 1327. Mansa
Mansa Musa
literally means Emperor.

A powerful empire in West Africa that dominated the region

Mali Empire
and had a ‘golden age’ in the 14th Century.

A fresco is a painting done directly onto wet plaster which dries

Frescoes
together to allow for richer colours as it ‘sinks’ into the plaster.
GLOSSARY CHECKPOINT

The greatest pilgrimage that a Muslim can undertake which

Hajj
involves travelling to Mecca.

The dominant language of the Middle East and North Africa. It

Arabic
is closely linked to Islam.

University of
A centre of learning built in Timbuktu.
Sankoré

YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• where Timbuktu is and who Mansa Musa was.

• what it was like to life in Timbuktu during the Middle Ages.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

• identify and describe similarities/differences between Europe/Timbuktu.
• explain why Timbuktu is considered a “jewel” of the Middle Ages.
UNIT OUTCOMES

• use source material to make valid inferences about Mana Musa and Timbuktu.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEFINE THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

Mansa Musa Mali Empire Frescoes

Hajj Arabic University of Sankoré

28
WHAT DOES MARGERY KEMP TELL US ABOUT THE
LIVES OF WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE AGES?

LIVING CONDITIONS WORKING CONDITIONS DIVERSITY

 Peasant women had many responsibilities including caring for children, preparing food
and taking care of the animals. At harvest time, women often joined their husbands
in the field to reap the crops. It was also common for women to run COTTAGE
INDUSTRIES in the house – this included brewing beer, baking and making clothing.
WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE FOR WOMEN IN THE

Life for women in towns was similar; they supported their husbands’ work. However,
the work they supported was different – it would include TEXTILES, leather goods
and metal work as well as the running of shops and inns.
Christianity influenced the role of women in society. Certain religious texts clearly
outlined that men had authority over women as well as banning women from
teaching and instructing them to remain silent.
Women often had little control over their own lives. Marriages were arranged – but
neither husband or wife had any choice. Most women were married as teenagers and
went onto the run the house. However, a widowed woman did gain control over her
MIDDLE AGES?

own money.
Unmarried women usually became a NUN. Specialist religious groups took female
members but they were required to live behind the walls of a nunnery, sometimes in
an individual cell, whilst praying and working.

One of the wealthiest and most influential leaders of the

Middle Ages, Eleanor became. Queen of France in 1137 and
then queen of England in 1154. She inherited the duchy of
WHY IS ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE

Aquitaine from her father after receiving an excellent

education.
Many kings courted her from across Europe but she agreed to marry Louis VII, the
future king of France. She joined her first husband, Louis VII, on the 3rd CRUSADE,
gathering her own army and departing in 1147.
The Crusade went poorly, leading Eleanor to ask the Pope to annul the marriage to
IMPORTANT?

Louis – he agreed, and she married Henry, Duke of Normandy in 1152. Despite a rocky
marriage, Eleanor eventually became Queen of England but lived independently,
creating the ‘Court of Love’ in which art and culture were encouraged.
She would go on to support her children in rebellions against her husband Henry II
of England and even ruled England on behalf of her son, Richard the Lionheart, when
he went to war.
30
 Razia was the only female ruler of the DELHI SULTANATE
in India. Born to a former slave who had climbed the social
ranks, Razia received a good education including training in
archery and military skills.
Such was her skill that her father chose her as heir over her brothers – this went
WHY IS RAZIA SULTANA IMPORTANT?

against the male-dominated traditions of the area. However, when her father died it
was her brother, Rukn, who seized the throne.
Razia, subsequently, led protests and gained popular support which resulted in her
brother being deposed and imprisoned whilst she became Sultana. Despite this
popularity, many rich nobles opposed her – and she crushed them.
She issued coins with her own face upon them, ordered massive construction projects
and even went so far as to wear man’s clothes in public.
Her reign though would come to an end when a supposed affair with a former slave,
Jamal, led to rebellion. Whilst she eventually married one of the rebels, she would go
on to die whilst fighting for her throne.

31
 KEY WORD DEFINITION

A business or activity that involves the creation of something in

Cottage Industries
the home. Example: Clothing.

A type of cloth or fabric that is produced by machines to

Textiles
eventually make clothes.

A woman who has pledged herself to God, and is usually found

Nun
in a nunnery at work and prayer.
GLOSSARY CHECKPOINT

A series of conflicts with the Muslims in the 13th and 14th

Crusade
centuries over control of Jerusalem.

An Islamic Empire based around Delhi in what is now India

Delhi Sultanate
which lasted from the 13th to 16th centuries.

YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• what life was like for women in the Middle Ages.

• who Eleanor of Aquitaine and Razia Sultana were.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

• describe what life was like for women in the Middle Ages.
• explain why Eleanor of Aquitaine and/or Razia Sultana are important
• use source material to make valid inferences about the lives of women in the
UNIT OUTCOMES

Middle Ages.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEFINE THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

Cottage Industries Textiles Nun

Crusade Delhi Sultanate

32
WHY DID LIFE CHANGE IN THE LATE MIDDLE
AGES?

GOVERNMENT REBELLION & REVOLUTION

 The LATE MIDDLE AGES are a time in Europe where society started to change. It
took place during the 14th and 15th centuries following events like the Black Death and
Peasants Revolt.

Change Continuity

• The amount of land an individual • Peasants lived usually between 21

or family owned increased so to 29 years.
people in the 15th Century owned
HOW DID LIFE CHANGE AND REMAIN THE SAME IN LATE MIDDLE AGES?

significantly more.
Living Conditions

• Diet broadly remained the same

• More peasants begin to own two for most with cereal, fruits and
buildings – more of which were vegetables common.
stone.
• Living accommodations started to • Houses continued to be made of
be separated from rooms in which wood, thatching and wattle-and-
animals were kept. daub for most of the population.

• Wages increased by 66% for

skilled builders.
• Peasants were no longer legally • Many continued to work on farms,
Working Conditions

limited to one place – they could either pastoral or arable.

move for work and even got
surnames! • Peasants were still expected to
• Workers’ rights improved including provide labour (work) for a lord.
forcing the King to reduce tax. under the Feudal System.
• Farming improved to require less
workers and larger farms emerging.

34
 The BLACK DEATH was a deadly disease that
lasted from 1348 to 1352, killing an estimated
50 million people as it spread down the Silk
Road, which connected Europe, India and
China.
Within England, it was estimated that 1.5 million people were killed in England from a
total population of 4 million. This led to shortages of workers. Those who did remain
alive, started to demand more rights because they were in short supply – bosses had
to give them more to attract them to work!
Additionally, the Black Death had a massive impact on land. 50% of the land that was
used in the 1340s had been abandoned by 1400. Some historians argue as many as
3,000 villages were left empty following the Black Death which shows that those who
survived, migrated to other communities for work.
WHY DID LIFE CHANGE IN THE LATE MIDDLE AGES?

Reeling from the Black Death and struggling

under workers demands, the King passed the
ORDNANCE OF LABOURERS to fix wages,
demand all fit people under 60 be available to
work and even banned ‘stealing’ other workers.
However, this was made worse when the King
introduced a new Poll Tax to pay for war with
France. Refusing to pay the Poll Tax, peasants
in Essex burnt down important documents
with 60,000 following Wat Tyler in a march
on London. This became known as the
PEASANTS’ REVOLT.
The Peasants’ Revolt showed that workers increasingly had power in England,
challenging the authority of the King that despite it being short-lived led to the
abolishment of the Poll Tax.
In the long-term, the Peasants’ Revolt continued to breakdown the feudal system and
helped to improve working conditions for the peasants. It also encouraged more
35 peasants to move for work – even though officially they were banned.
 KEY WORD DEFINITION

Late Middle Ages A name for the 14th and 15th centuries within European society.

A deadly disease that struck the world between 1348 and 1352.
Black Death
It is estimated to have killed 50% of the world’s population.
GLOSSARY CHECKPOINT

A laws passed by the King to fix wages, demand all fit people
Ordinance of
under 60 be available to work and even banned ‘stealing’ other
Labourers
workers

A protest by 60,000 in 1381 against the Poll Tax introduced by

Peasants’ Revolt
the King.

YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• how working/living conditions changed and remained the same in the late
Middle Ages.
• what caused these changes to working and living conditions to happen.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

• describe change and continuity in living conditions in the late Middle Ages.
• describe change and continuity in working conditions in the late Middle Ages.
UNIT OUTCOMES

• explain how the Black Death and/or Peasants Revolt caused these changes.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEFINE THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

Late Middle Ages Black Death

Ordinance of Labourers Peasants’ Revolt

36