GCSE History: Medieval Migration

Who were the Vikings?

People from Scandinavia, which includes the modern-day countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

What was the first phase of the Viking arrival in England?

Raiding, which began around 789. For over 70 years, Vikings attacked England's north and eastern shores to steal wealth and terrorise communities.

What was the second phase of the Viking arrival in England?

Invasion & Settlement, which began in 865. The Vikings stopped raiding and started a full-scale invasion to conquer and live in England.

Why was English land a reason for Vikings to settle?

The land in eastern England was rich and fertile. This was ideal for farming, allowing Vikings to settle down and raise their families.

How was trade a reason for Viking settlement in England?

Many English towns were important trading hubs with Europe. The Vikings knew that capturing these towns would make them very rich.

How did Viking religious beliefs encourage them to invade?

Vikings worshipped gods like Odin (the god of war). They believed that fighting and winning battles would earn them rewards in the afterlife (Valhalla).

What was the 'Great Heathen Army'?

A large force of several Viking armies that landed in East Anglia in 865 with the aim of conquering England.

What had the 'Great Heathen Army' achieved by 878?

They had conquered most of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, leaving only the kingdom of Wessex unconquered.

What was 'Danegeld'?

A tax paid to the Vikings to stop their raids. King Alfred of Wessex paid it in 871 to make them leave his kingdom.

What was the Danelaw?

A large area of northern and eastern England that was ruled by the Vikings according to their laws and customs.

How was the Danelaw established?

Through the Treaty of Wedmore in 878, signed after King Alfred of Wessex defeated a Viking army but agreed to divide the land.

How was the Danelaw governed?

It was run as five separate 'jarldoms' (earldoms): Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Nottingham, and Stamford.

How did Vikings and Saxons co-exist in the Danelaw?

The relationship was flexible. The Danes allowed Saxons to continue minting their own coins, and many Danes converted to Christianity while also keeping their own gods.

Who fought to reclaim the Danelaw from the Vikings?

King Alfred's son, Edward, and his grandson, Athelstan, fought against the Danes to regain control of the territory.

What was the significance of the Battle of Brunanburh in 937?

King Athelstan won a major victory against the Vikings, bringing all of England back under the control of the Saxon kings.

What was England like under the rule of King Edgar (959-975)?

England enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity. However, after his reign, Viking raids to regain the Danelaw began again.

What was the St Brice's Day Massacre?

An order by the Anglo-Saxon King Ethelred on 14th November 1002 to kill all Danes living in England.

What was the ultimate consequence of the St Brice's Day Massacre?

The Danish King retaliated, leading to the defeat of the Anglo-Saxons in 1013. The Viking King Cnut (Canute) became King of all England in 1016.

How did King Cnut rule England after 1016?

He brought peace and stability by allowing Saxons to hold positions of power, using Anglo-Saxon laws, expanding trade with his links to Scandinavia, and working with the Pope to expand Christianity.

What is the Viking legacy on English place names?

Many place names, especially in the north and east, end in -by (farmstead) or -thorpe (outlying farm).

Which days of the week are named after Viking gods?

Tuesday (Tyr), Wednesday (Woden/Odin), Thursday (Thor), and Friday (Frigg).

What is the Viking linguistic legacy in Northern English dialects?

Some dialects in the North of England still contain a large number of words from Old Norse.

What early form of democracy did Vikings introduce to England?

Public assemblies called 'Things' where freemen could vote on new laws and prosecute criminals, a forerunner to the jury system.

What rights did women have in the Danelaw?

Women had almost equal rights to men and could inherit land, which was unusual for the time.

Why was there a succession crisis in England in 1066?

King Edward the Confessor died on 5th January 1066 without a direct heir, leading to multiple claimants for the throne.

Who were the two main claimants to the English throne in 1066?

1. Harold Godwinson: The most powerful English noble, who was crowned king on 6th January.

2. William, Duke of Normandy: Who claimed the throne had been promised to him.

What was the Feudal System?

A system of land ownership and loyalty introduced by William I. The king owned all land and granted it to others in return for service and loyalty.

How did the Feudal System help William I control England?

It created a clear hierarchy of power where everyone was loyal to the person above them, and ultimately to the king, securing his control.

What was the Domesday Book?

A huge and detailed survey of all the land, property, and people in England, ordered by William I in 1086.

What were the two main reasons for creating the Domesday Book?

1. To raise taxes effectively by knowing exactly who owned what.

2. To settle land disputes between Norman landowners.

How did the Normans use castles to control England?

In less than 10 years, they built hundreds of castles as visible symbols of power, to intimidate the Saxon population and act as military bases.

What was a direct consequence of Norman castle building for the local population?

The Normans destroyed hundreds of Saxon houses to clear land for their castles, showing their terrifying power.

What impact did the Normans have on the Church in England?

They replaced 16 Saxon bishops with Normans, by 1200 they had rebuilt wooden churches in stone, and strengthened England’s relationship with the Christian world and gave the Pope more authority.

How did Norman rule differ from Viking rule in England?

• Vikings: ran a few kingdoms within the Danelaw, each ruled by an earl (jarl).

• Normans: ruled the whole country under one person — the King.

• This created a more centralised kingdom, with power concentrated at the top.

What was the impact of the Norman Conquest on the English language?

Norman French became the language of the ruling class. Many French words entered the English language (e.g., pork, beef, parliament, judge).

Why did William I invite Jewish people to England?

He needed to borrow large sums of money to build castles and cathedrals to secure his rule.

Why were Jewish people the only ones who could lend money with interest?

The Catholic Church forbade Christians from charging interest on loans (called 'usury'). Jewish people were not bound by this Christian rule.

What jobs, besides moneylending, did Jewish migrants do?

They worked in a variety of jobs, including as doctors, goldsmiths, fishmongers, cheesemakers, and artists.

How did Jewish lending practices promote peace in England?

Because medieval kings could borrow money from Jewish lenders, they did not have to raise unpopular taxes or demand money from the barons as often.

How did Jewish migrants contribute to education?

They helped develop Oxford University. Merton College was partly funded by a wealthy Jew named Jacob of Oxford, and Jewish tutors helped students with Hebrew texts.

How did the status of Jewish people as the king's "property" cause resentment?

It meant they were protected by the king, but also that he could tax them very heavily. This forced them to charge high interest on loans, which the public disliked.

How did the Church contribute to anti-Semitism in England?

It taught that Jewish people were responsible for Jesus's death, which created widespread hostility and prejudice.

What were 'Blood Libels'?

False stories that spread accusing Jews of ritually murdering Christian children. These lies often led to violent attacks and massacres.

Why did English kings become less reliant on Jewish lenders after 1265?

The Pope allowed Italian Christian bankers to start charging interest on loans, giving the king an alternative source of money.

What happened to Jewish people in York in 1190?

Following attacks, 150 Jews fled for safety in Clifford's Tower. It was surrounded by a mob, and they were killed trying to escape.

What were Jewish people forced to wear from 1218?

A yellow patch on their clothes to distinguish them from Christians.

What was the Statute of Jewry (1275)?

A law by King Edward I that banned Jewish people from charging interest. This destroyed their main profession and made many destitute.

What happened to hundreds of Jews in London in 1278?

Hundreds were arrested for 'coin-clipping' (shaving off small amounts of metal from coins), and 293 were hanged.

What happened to England's Jewish community in 1290?

King Edward I issued the Edict of Expulsion, ordering all Jews to either convert to Christianity or leave England forever. Most left as refugees.

Why did Flemish people migrate to England?

For safety from wars at home, better wages for skilled workers, and because they were actively invited by English kings like Edward III.

What were some of the common jobs for Flemish migrants?

The majority worked as labourers and servants, but a high proportion were also skilled craftsmen like tailors, shoemakers, dyers, and weavers

What new skills, besides weaving, did migrants from the Low Countries bring?

They included Dutch brewers (mainly women) who introduced using hops to brew beer, and some of England's first printers, clock makers, and opticians.

What specific promises did King Edward III make to attract Flemish weavers?

He promised to protect them, allow them to set up their own guild, let them work anywhere, and briefly banned the export of English wool to create work for them in England.

How did Flemish weavers transform England's economy?

They helped England shift from exporting raw wool to producing and exporting valuable finished cloth, which was far more profitable and created more jobs.

Why did English craft guilds resent Flemish migrants?

They saw the Flemish workers as economic competition, believing they were taking jobs and undercutting prices for English craftsmen.

When were Flemish migrants targeted with violence?

During the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, mobs murdered about 150 foreign weavers and merchants, who they resented for the special privileges given to them by the king.

Who were the Hansa merchants?

Merchants from a powerful German trading confederation (the Hanseatic League), who were given significant control over the English wool trade by a charter in 1266.

What was the 'Steelyard' in London?

A headquarters on the River Thames established by Hansa merchants, where imports and exports were stored.

What was the economic impact of the Hansa merchants?

They helped make England a major European trading centre and developed ports like King's Lynn into major sources of tax revenue.

Who were the Lombardy bankers?

Christian bankers from Lombardy, Italy, who found loopholes in the Church's ban on usury, allowing them to lend money with interest.

What role did Lombardy bankers play in the expulsion of the Jews?

By providing the king with an alternative source of loans, they took the place of Jewish moneylenders, which contributed to the decision to expel the Jews in 1290.

What did Lombardy bankers get in return for lending money to English kings?

In return for loans, they gained privileged rights to trade in English wool and other goods.

What is the origin of the old English currency symbols (£, s, d)?

The symbols were taken from the first letters of the Italian words for pounds (lira), shillings (soldi), and pence (denari).

What is the linguistic legacy of the Lombardy bankers?

They professionalised banking and introduced Italian words we still use today, such as 'bank' (from 'banca' - a bench), 'credit', and 'debit'.