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1066/Battle of Hastings/William the Conqueror

Total questions: 26

Worksheet time: 14mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Who was King of England immediately before the events of 1066?

a)

William the Conqueror

b)

Harold Godwinson

c)

Harald Hardrada

d)

Edward the Confessor

2.

Which of these men claimed that the previous King had promised him the throne?

a)

Harold Godwinson

b)

Edgar Atheling

c)

Harald Hardrada

d)

William Duke of Normandy

3.

Which contender was a famous Viking warrior and the King of Norway?

a)

Harald Hardrada

b)

William Duke of Normandy

c)

Harold Godwinson

d)

Edgar Atheling

4.

William Duke of Normandy famously defeated Harold Godwinson at which battle?

a)

Battle of Bosworth

b)

Battle of Fulford Gate

c)

Battle of Stamford Bridge

d)

Battle of Hastings

5.

Which of these contenders was actually crowned King of England in 1066 before being defeated later in the year?

a)

Harold Godwinson

b)

Edgar Atheling

c)

Harald Hardrada

d)

William Duke of Normandy

6.

Who were the main Viking forces led by at the Battle of Fulford Gate?

a)

William Duke of Normandy

b)

Harold Godwinson

c)

Tostig and Harald Hardrada

d)

Sweyn Forkbeard

7.

Which English Earls led the forces against the Vikings at Fulford Gate?

a)

Harold Godwinson and Leofwine Godwinson

b)

Edwin of Mercia and Morcar of Northumbria

c)

Siward of Northumbria and Ælfgar of Mercia

8.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Fulford Gate?

a)

A Viking victory for Harald Hardrada

b)

An English Victory for Edwin and Morcar

c)

A draw

9.

Who led the English forces at the Battle of Stamford Bridge?

a)

Edwin

b)

Morcar

c)

Harold Godwinson

d)

Tostig

10.

What surprise element did the English forces have at the start of the Battle of Stamford Bridge?

a)

They had superior numbers.

b)

They arrived unexpectedly, catching the Vikings off guard.

c)

They had better weapons.

d)

They had built strong fortifications.

11.

What was the overall result of the Battle of Stamford Bridge?

a)

A victory for Harold Godwinson

b)

A victory for Harald Hardrada

c)

A draw, with heavy losses on both sides

d)

The Vikings managed to escape without significant losses

12.

Who was involved in the following battles in 1066?

a)

Battle of Hastings

1.

Harold Godwinson vs William of Normandy

b)

Battle of Stamford Bridge

2.

Harold Godwinson vs Harald Hardrada

c)

Battle of Fulford Gate

3.

Edwin & Morcar vs Harald Hardrada

13.

Why did William the Conqueror build castles across England?

a)

To provide comfortable homes for his Norman knights.

b)

To establish military control and suppress rebellions.

c)

To serve as centers for trade and commerce.

d)

To showcase Norman architectural styles.

14.

What was the primary purpose of the Domesday Book?

a)

To document the laws and customs of the Anglo-Saxons.

b)

To record the history of England before the Norman Conquest.

c)

To list the names of all the soldiers who fought at the Battle of Hastings.

d)

To survey the land, its owners, and resources for taxation purposes.

15.

The Domesday Book provided William with valuable information about:

a)

The popular songs and stories of the time.

b)

The construction techniques used in Anglo-Saxon buildings.

c)

Who owned what land and its value.

d)

The religious beliefs of the English people.

16.

What was the basis of the feudal system introduced by William the Conqueror?

a)

A hierarchical system of land ownership in exchange for loyalty and service.

b)

A system of democratic elections for local leaders.

c)

A system of trade agreements with neighboring countries.

d)

A system where all land was owned directly by the peasants.

17.

Under the feudal system, who directly owned all the land in England?

a)

The powerful Earls and Barons.

b)

The Church.

c)

The Norman knights.

d)

The King.

18.

What was the "motte" in a motte and bailey castle?

a)

An artificial mound of earth.

b)

A large outer courtyard.

c)

A fortified gatehouse.

d)

A deep ditch filled with water.

19.

What was the "bailey" in a motte and bailey castle?

a)

The main tower built on the mound.

b)

An enclosed courtyard at ground level.

c)

A wooden bridge connecting the motte to the outer defenses.

d)

Underground tunnels used for escape.

20.

Which of the following was an advantage of a motte and bailey castle?

a)

It could be built relatively quickly using readily available materials.

b)

It offered superior protection against siege weaponry.

c)

It provided ample space for large garrisons and supplies.

d)

It was less vulnerable to fire.

21.

What was a significant disadvantage of a motte and bailey castle?

a)

It was very expensive to construct.

b)

It took many years to build.

c)

The wooden structures were susceptible to fire and decay.

d)

It was difficult to defend due to its large size.

22.

Which of the following was an advantage of a stone keep castle over a motte and bailey castle?

a)

It could be constructed more quickly.

b)

It was less expensive to maintain.

c)

It provided better visibility of the surrounding countryside due to its lower height.

d)

It offered greater resistance to attack, including siege engines and fire.

23.

Which of the following was a common method used to attack a medieval castle?

a)

Building larger and more comfortable houses nearby to encourage surrender.

b)

Sending polite requests for the inhabitants to leave peacefully.

c)

Sieges, involving surrounding the castle and cutting off supplies.

d)

Offering large sums of money to the defenders to switch sides.

24.

Siege towers were used in attacks to:

a)

Destroy the foundations of the castle walls.

b)

Allow attackers to reach the top of the walls.

c)

Tunnel under the castle.

d)

Launch large stones over the castle walls.

25.

Which of the following was a defensive tactic used by those inside a castle under siege?

a)

Opening the gates and charging the enemy head-on.

b)

Launching arrows, stones, and hot liquids at the attackers.

c)

Ignoring the attackers and continuing daily life.

d)

Surrendering immediately to avoid casualties

26.

How did the introduction of castles, the Domesday Book, and the feudal system collectively contribute to William's control of England?

a)

They encouraged cultural exchange and understanding between Normans and Anglo-Saxons.

b)

They primarily focused on improving agricultural output and trade.

c)

They established a strong military presence, a detailed record of resources, and a system of loyalty that centralized power in the hands of the King.

d)

They aimed to integrate England into a larger European political system.