What you'll learn
How the Normans conquered and controlled England.
The Conquest
- Rival claimants in 1066; the Battle of Hastings and the death of Harold.
- Securing the kingdom: the Harrying of the North and revolts.
Norman control
- Castles (motte-and-bailey) to dominate the land.
- The feudal system: land granted in return for service; barons, knights, peasants.
- The Domesday Book (1086) recorded landholding and wealth.
Church and society
- Reform of the Church and its role in government; Norman aristocracy replaces the Anglo-Saxon elite.
Exam tips
- Explain how castles and feudalism helped William control England.
- Use the four question types (interpretation, follow-up, describe, essay) correctly.
Common mistakes
- Focusing only on Hastings and ignoring how control was kept.
- Forgetting the purpose of the Domesday Book.