Year 8 History – Battle of Hastings & Bayeux Tapestry (1066)
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Atomic recall cards covering the 1066 succession crisis, the four claimants, Stamford Bridge, the Battle of Hastings, and the Norman Conquest's short- and long-term consequences. Also covers source analysis of the Bayeux Tapestry (provenance, perspective, reliability) and PEEL paragraph structure. Built for spaced repetition and cold retrieval — one fact per card.
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77 Terms
In which year did the Norman Conquest of England take place?
1066
On what date was the Battle of Hastings fought?
14 October 1066
Which English king died in January 1066, triggering a succession crisis?
Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor ruled England from 1042 until _______.
1066
Edward the Confessor was famous for being deeply _______, and was later made a saint.
pious (religious)
Why did Edward the Confessor's death cause a crisis?
He died without a son or clear heir
A dispute over who should become the next ruler is called a _______ crisis.
succession
How many main claimants competed for the English throne in 1066?
Four
Which claimant was the leading English noble chosen by the English council?
Harold Godwinson
The English council that selected the next king was known as the _______.
Witan
On what basis did William of Normandy claim the English throne?
He said Edward the Confessor had promised the throne to him
What did William claim Harold Godwinson had sworn to him?
An oath to support William's claim to the throne
What title did William hold before becoming King of England?
Duke of Normandy
Which claimant to the English throne was King of Norway?
Harald Hardrada
On what basis did Harald Hardrada claim the English throne?
Older Viking agreements made with earlier English kings
Which claimant was Edward the Confessor's young great-nephew?
Edgar the Aetheling
Why did Edgar fail to win the throne despite his blood link to Edward?
He was too young and had too little noble support
Who was crowned King of England in January 1066?
Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson's coronation is best classified as a _______-term cause of the Battle of Hastings.
short
Which battle did Harold Godwinson fight against Harald Hardrada in September 1066?
The Battle of Stamford Bridge
What was the outcome of the Battle of Stamford Bridge for Harold Godwinson?
He won and Hardrada was killed
Why did Harold's army reach Hastings exhausted?
They had force-marched south from Yorkshire after Stamford Bridge
In which part of England was the Battle of Hastings fought?
Sussex, in the south, near the town of Hastings
On what type of ground did Harold position his army?
High ground on a ridge (Senlac Hill)
What advantage did Harold gain from holding the ridge?
The Normans had to attack uphill
What defensive formation did the English army use at Hastings?
The shield wall
From which earlier enemy had the English learned shield-wall fighting?
The Vikings
The English elite, including King Harold, fought on _______ rather than on horseback.
foot
Which troop type gave the Norman army its main advantage at Hastings?
Cavalry (mounted knights)
Which Norman troops attacked the shield wall from a distance?
Archers
What trick did the Norman cavalry use to lure English soldiers off the ridge?
The feigned retreat (pretending to flee)
Why was the feigned retreat so effective?
English soldiers chased the Normans, breaking the shield wall
What body armour did soldiers on both sides wear at Hastings?
Mail shirts
What shape were the shields used by both armies at Hastings?
Kite-shaped
What was the most commonly used weapon at Hastings?
The spear
Which weapon did some English soldiers prefer that was rare among the Normans?
The battleaxe
According to tradition, how did King Harold die?
He was struck in the eye by an arrow
Why do historians treat the arrow-in-the-eye story with caution?
It comes from the Norman-made Bayeux Tapestry and is disputed
Who won the Battle of Hastings?
William, Duke of Normandy
On what date was William crowned King of England?
25 December 1066
In which building was William crowned king?
Westminster Abbey
By what name is William, Duke of Normandy, now usually known?
William the Conqueror
Give one reason the English lost at Hastings relating to their physical condition.
They were exhausted from marching from Stamford Bridge
Give one reason the English lost at Hastings relating to leadership.
Harold was killed, so the English lost command and morale
Give one reason the English lost at Hastings relating to army composition.
The Normans had cavalry and archers; the English had neither
What happened to Anglo-Saxon nobles after the Norman Conquest?
They were replaced by Norman lords
Which land-holding system did the Normans introduce to England?
The feudal system
Define the feudal system.
A system where land is granted in return for loyalty and service
What type of building did the Normans construct across England to control it?
Castles
How did the Conquest change England's relationship with Europe?
England became far more closely tied to France and Europe
What happened when Norman French mixed with Old English?
It produced Middle English, which developed into modern English
Why did the Conquest create long-term tension between England and France?
English kings held land in France, raising questions about loyalty
Which historical period is often said to begin in England with 1066?
Medieval England
William becoming King of England is an example of a _______-term consequence.
short
The change in the English language is an example of a _______-term consequence.
long
Define a turning point in history.
A significant event causing extreme, irreversible change to a society
What is a long-term cause?
A factor that built up tension over many years before the event
What is a short-term cause?
A factor occurring shortly before the event that triggered it
What is an immediate cause?
Something happening during the event that shaped its outcome
A word or phrase such as "because" or "due to", which links a cause to its result, is called a _______ connective.
reasoning (causal)
Which Norman source depicts the events leading to the Battle of Hastings?
The Bayeux Tapestry
Approximately how long is the Bayeux Tapestry?
About 70 metres
In which century was the Bayeux Tapestry made?
The 11th century
Why is "tapestry" technically the wrong word for the Bayeux Tapestry?
It is embroidered, not woven
Who is believed to have commissioned the Bayeux Tapestry?
Bishop Odo, William's half-brother
Is the Bayeux Tapestry a primary or a secondary source?
Primary
Why is the Bayeux Tapestry classed as a primary source?
It was made close to the time of the events it shows
Why must historians question the reliability of the Bayeux Tapestry?
It was made for the Norman side, so it favours William
Whose perspective on 1066 is largely missing from the Bayeux Tapestry?
The Anglo-Saxon (English) perspective
Which celestial event appears in the Bayeux Tapestry?
Halley's Comet
How did people in 1066 interpret the comet shown in the tapestry?
As an omen warning of disaster or great change
The term for the background, origin and purpose of a source is its _______.
provenance
In a PEEL paragraph, what does the letter P stand for?
Point
In a PEEL paragraph, what does the first letter E stand for?
Evidence
In a PEEL paragraph, what does the second letter E stand for?
Explain
In a PEEL paragraph, what does the letter L stand for?
Link
What is the purpose of a judgement word in a source analysis?
To state how useful or reliable the source is