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Christmas Challenge: The Normans

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 13mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

How old was Edward the Confessor's great nephew, Edgar?

a)

10

b)

12

c)

14

d)

16

2.

Why weren't the Viking's wearing armour at the Battle of Stamford Bridge?

a)

They thought armour was unmanly

b)

Harold Godwinson caught them by surpise

c)

Vikings didn't have armour

d)

It had all been lost at the Battle of Fulford.

3.

What chance event helped William win the Battle of Hastings?

a)

William landed at the wrong place

b)

Saxon soldiers charged down the hill, making them easy to kill.

c)

Harold ordered his men to chagre at the wrong time

d)

Edgar the Atheling changed sides

4.

How many people did William kill during the Harrying of the North in 1069/70?

a)

10,000

b)

50,000

c)

100,000

d)

1,000,000

5.

By 1087 how much of the land was left in English hands?

a)

0%

b)

5%

c)

10%

d)

25%

6.

William replaced 6 earls with how many barons and bishops - making easier to control them?

a)

50

b)

100

c)

200

d)

500

7.

What was the name of an order the king sent out which had the force of law?

a)

Writ

b)

Bill

c)

Charter

d)

Act

8.

Why did more ceorls [free] become Villains [unfree] peasnats?

a)

William ordered them

b)

It was safer

c)

They signed documents they couldn't read

d)

They could not afford the new taxes and rents

9.

What was simony?

a)

Buying church offices [eg bishop]

b)

Selling relics

c)

Marrying a priest

d)

Selling simon cakes in church

10.

How much did William II sell the bishopric of Durham for?

a)

£1

b)

£10

c)

£100

d)

£1000

11.

The number of monasteries increased from 60 in 1066 to how many in 1135?

a)

100

b)

150

c)

200

d)

250

12.

How many monsteries did the Abbey of Cluny own in 1135

a)

24

b)

26

c)

28

d)

30

13.

Why did Lanfranc create a new position between Bishops and Prisests called Archdeacons?

a)

To give jobs to his friends

b)

To reward loyal Englishmen

c)

To promote small towns

d)

To make sure reforms are carried out

14.

Jewish people came to England with the Normans. How did they help the ecoomy grow?

a)

They could lend money to people to build businesses.

b)

They were specialist wool farmers

c)

They were skilled armourers

d)

They knew how to mkae blue dye

15.

Why were grains [wheat] and peas /beans the most common food?

a)

They were easy to store

b)

They could only be grown in England

c)

They could be eaten on Holy Days

d)

They tasted better than all the alternatives

16.

Sheriffs ran counties like Lincolnshire for the King,raising soldiers & taxes and running the courts. What was the advantage of sheriffs over barons for William?

a)

They were all French

b)

He could sack them if they let him down

c)

Barons could not speak English

d)

The sheriffs were richer

17.

What new Trial by Ordeal did the Normans introduce?

a)

Trail by Fire

b)

Trial by Combat

c)

Trial Water

d)

Trial by Rabbit

18.

Under William's new Feudal Dues, if a landowner [Knight, Baron] died and his son was only a child, what could his lord [Baron or King] do?

a)

Take all their land from them and give it to someone else

b)

Make them take their father's name

c)

Legally declare them a daughter

d)

Run their land till the son became an adult

e)

Adopt them at once

19.

Under Forest Laws what happened if someone was caught poaching the first time?

a)

Two fingers cut off

b)

Blinded

c)

Made to plant 12 trees

d)

Pay a fine of 12d per deer killed

e)

Dance round the woods 12 times

20.

How did William get rid of the Viking raiders during the Northern Revolt on 1069/70?

a)

Threatened to kill every second Viking

b)

Married his son to a Viking Princess

c)

Paid them a Danegeld [money]

d)

Called on MacBeth for help

21.

Why did having archers give William an advantage at Hastings?

a)

It showed the Saxons he was modern

b)

The English had never seen archers before

c)

He could damage the Anglo-Saxons without having to risk his soldiers lives

d)

The knights were scared of them

22.

Motte & Bailey castles were defensive homes. What else could they be used for?

a)

Bases to attack the English from.

b)

Places to set up Bishop[s palaces

c)

Stores for priest's tithes

d)

Places for travellers to stay

23.

What advantage did Harold Godwinson have when Edward the Confessor died?

a)

He was in London so could seize power at once

b)

William supported him

c)

All his brothers supported him

d)

He owned all the castles in England

24.

Harold forced marched his men to attack the Vikings at Stamford Bridge. How long did it take?

a)

1 day

b)

6 days

c)

10 days

d)

14 days

25.

Why did the number of slaves fall under Normans?

a)

The church did not approve of slavery

b)

William sold all the slaves

c)

The slaves were killed during the Harrying of the North

d)

The slaves were freed by the Anglo-Saxons