History Revision

Where did the Vikings come from?

The Vikings came from Scandinavia (modern-day Norway, Sweden, and Denmark). They travelled across Europe from around the late 700s to 1100s.

What were Viking longships?

Longships were fast, narrow ships built by the Vikings for exploration, trade, and raids.

What were features of Viking longships?

They had a long, thin shape, a shallow draft (could travel in shallow water), a single sail, oars, and a flexible wooden design.

Why were Viking longships effective for travel and raids?

They were fast, could travel through oceans and rivers, could land on beaches, and allowed Vikings to attack quickly and escape.

What did Vikings believe in?

Vikings followed Norse mythology and believed in many gods and goddesses including Odin, Thor, Loki, Freyja, and Freyr. They believed warriors could go to Valhalla after death.

Who was Odin?

Odin was the chief Norse god associated with wisdom, knowledge, war, magic, and death. He was the ruler of the gods.

Who was Thor?

Thor was the god of thunder, storms, strength, and protection. He carried the magical hammer Mjölnir.

Who was Loki?

Loki was a trickster god known for intelligence, shapeshifting, and causing trouble among the gods.

Who was Freyja?

Freyja was the goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and magic. She was also connected to war and warriors.

Who was Freyr?

Freyr was the god of fertility, farming, prosperity, peace, and good harvests.

Who was Tyr?

Tyr was the god of law, justice, courage, and heroic sacrifice.

Who was Heimdall?

Heimdall was the guardian of the gods who protected the bridge Bifröst between worlds.

Who was Baldr?

Baldr was the god of light, goodness, beauty, and purity. He was the son of Odin.

Who was Frigg?

Frigg was Odin’s wife and goddess of marriage, motherhood, and destiny.

Who was Hel?

Hel was the goddess who ruled the underworld realm where many of the dead went.

Who was Njord?

Njord was the god of the sea, sailing, fishing, and wealth.

Who were the Valkyries?

The Valkyries were female figures who chose warriors who died in battle and brought them to Valhalla.

What was Valhalla?

Valhalla was the hall where warriors who died bravely in battle were believed to go.

What was Ragnarök?

Ragnarök was the Norse belief in the end of the world where gods and creatures would battle, causing destruction and renewal.

What were Viking longhouses?

Longhouses were large wooden buildings where Viking families lived, worked, ate, and socialised.

What did Viking longhouses look like?

They were long rectangular buildings with wooden walls, curved roofs, and one large shared room with a central fire.

How were Viking longhouses used?

They were used for sleeping, cooking, working, storing goods, and gathering as a community.

Why did Vikings raid and explore?

A growing population and reduced farmland dove Vikings to raid and explore. Vikings raided for wealth, land, resources, slaves, and power. They explored for trade and new opportunities.

What were Viking achievements and legacies?

Vikings influenced language, place names, trade networks, exploration, and settlements.

How did Vikings influence language and place names?

Viking languages influenced English and many places in Europe have Viking-origin names.

How did Vikings contribute to trade?

Vikings created trade routes connecting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Who was Hernán Cortés?

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire in 1521.

Who was Francisco Pizarro?

Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador who conquered the Inca Empire in 1533.

What was the Aztec Empire?

The Aztec Empire was a powerful civilisation in Mesoamerica (modern-day Mexico) with its capital at Tenochtitlan.

Who conquered the Aztec Empire?

Hernán Cortés and his Spanish forces conquered the Aztec Empire in 1521.

What was the Inca Empire?

The Inca Empire was the largest empire in South America, located in the Andes Mountains.

Who conquered the Inca Empire?

Francisco Pizarro and his Spanish forces conquered the Inca Empire in 1533.

Who was Atahualpa?

Atahualpa was the last major ruler of the Inca Empire during the Spanish conquest. He was captured by Pizarro.

What motivated Spanish exploration and conquest?

The Spanish wanted gold, wealth, power, land, and to spread Christianity.

What diseases affected Indigenous peoples?

European diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza spread among Indigenous populations.

Why were Indigenous peoples vulnerable to European diseases?

They had little previous exposure to these diseases and therefore had limited immunity.

How did disease help the Spanish conquer the Aztec and Inca Empires?

Disease weakened populations, caused many deaths, and made resistance against the Spanish more difficult.

What navigation techniques did Polynesians use?

Polynesians used stars, ocean currents, waves, winds, birds, and weather patterns to navigate across oceans.

What were common features of Polynesian societies?

They had strong family groups, tribal connections, shared languages, cultural traditions, and respect for ancestors.

Why were family and tribal groups important?

They provided identity, support, protection, and helped organise communities.

What was Māori warrior culture?

Māori society valued warriors who protected their people, defended land, and developed fighting skills.

Why were warriors important in Māori society?

Warriors protected tribes, resources, and helped maintain mana (status and respect).

What weapons did Māori warriors use?

They used weapons such as taiaha (fighting staffs), mere (clubs), and spears.

What were Māori pā?

Pā were fortified villages built for protection and defence.

What features did Māori pā have?

They had defensive walls, palisades, ditches, earthworks, and food storage areas.

What were pātaka?

Pātaka were raised storage buildings used to store food and valuable items.

What is whānau?

Whānau means extended family groups in Māori society.

What is hapū?

Hapū means a sub-tribe made up of related whānau groups.

What is iwi?

Iwi means a Māori tribe made up of related hapū.

How was Māori society organised?

Māori society was organised around whānau, hapū, and iwi with strong connections to ancestors and land.