HistoryFreePrintable

Norman Conquest Exploration Worksheet

A free history worksheet ready for your classroom. Open in Kuraplan to grab the print-ready PDF, customize it for your students, or generate a fresh version in seconds.

Download now

Name:Date:

Norman Conquest Exploration Worksheet

Investigate the events and effects of the Norman Conquest using the source and timeline. Answer every question; use evidence when you explain an idea.

Source: a kingdom in crisis

Edward the Confessor, king of England, died in January 1066 without a child to inherit the throne. Harold Godwinson, a powerful English earl, was crowned king. William, Duke of Normandy, claimed that Edward had promised him the throne. William also said Harold had sworn to support his claim. Harold’s supporters disputed William’s version of events. In September, Harald Hardrada, king of Norway, invaded northern England with the help of Tostig, Harold’s exiled brother. Harold’s army defeated them at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. William then crossed the Channel and landed in Sussex. On 14 October, the English and Norman armies fought at Hastings. Harold was killed and William won. He was crowned king on Christmas Day, 1066. William faced resistance after his victory. He ordered castles to be built in important places, helping his forces defend territory and intimidate local people. Many English landowners lost their estates, which were given to Norman followers. In 1086, William ordered a survey of land and wealth across much of England. Its record, known as Domesday Book, helped the king assess taxes and understand the resources of his kingdom.

Track the turning points

Use the timeline to put the crisis into sequence. Each marked point is an event described in the source.

1.Select all the people in the source who claimed, or were chosen for, the English throne in 1066.

Harold Godwinson
William, Duke of Normandy
Harald Hardrada
Tostig

2.Choose the event that happened first in 1066.

William was crowned king.
Harold defeated Harald Hardrada at Stamford Bridge.
Edward the Confessor died.
The Battle of Hastings took place.

3.Which year belongs at the right-hand end of the timeline, and what important record was created in that year?

4.Complete the sentence: Edward’s death created a succession crisis because .

5.True or false? The source says that William’s claim was based partly on a promise from Edward and partly on Harold’s sworn support. Explain briefly.

6.Harold fought Harald Hardrada in the north, then faced William in the south. What challenge did this create for Harold’s army? Use evidence from the source.

7.Name two changes to landownership described in the source after William’s victory.

8.Give two ways castles could help William control territory, using the source.

9.According to the source, how could Domesday Book help William govern England?

10.Was the Norman Conquest mainly a change of ruler, or did it transform how England was controlled? Write a short judgement supported by two details from the source.