Norman England Flashcards

1
Q

How was society organised in this time?

A

Under the Fuedal System

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2
Q

Who were some of the most powerful rulers during this time?

A

The Normans

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3
Q

How did the name ‘Normans’ originate.

A

Viking settlers were called Norsemen and their region was known as Normandy. The people were then called Normans.

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4
Q

Where did the Vikings settle?

A

North-west France

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5
Q

Who ruled Normandy?

A

Dukes

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6
Q

When did the Normans gain control of England?

A

1066

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7
Q

How did the Normans gain control of England?

A

The King of England (Edward the Confessor) died with no heir. The duke of Normandy, William, claimed the crown. Rejected by English nobles led by Harold, the Earl of Hereford, the Battle of Hastings occurred. William defeated Harold.

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8
Q

What is another name for William?

A

William the Conqueror.

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9
Q

Where is this story told?

A

On the Bayeux Tapestry.

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10
Q

When did the Normans set out to conquer other parts of Europe?

A

1200

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11
Q

What was Fuedalism?

A

The system of land ownership where rulers divided land among their followers in return for loyalty and taxes.

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12
Q

What were the followers of rulers called? (2 names)

A

Nobles or Vassals

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13
Q

What was the land given to Nobles called?

A

Fief

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14
Q

What did the Nobles swear to the King?

A

An Oath Of Fealty: Promise to fight for him, provide troops and pay taxes.

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15
Q

Who did the Nobles give some land to?

A

Knights

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16
Q

What did knights do?

A

Swore to be loyal and fight for the noble and look after peasants.

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17
Q

Who were peasants?

A

People who worked on the Lord’s land.

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18
Q

How did the Normans quickly gain control of their new fief?

A

They built Motte and Bailey castles.

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19
Q

What was a motte?

A

A small artificial hill with a small wooden tower (the keep) on top.

20
Q

What was a bailey?

A

A large enclosed area to house soldiers with high wooden fences and a ditch/moat.

21
Q

What would be built after control of the area was secured?

A

A stone castle.

22
Q

What did the castles help with?

A

Allowed the Lord to defend against attacks and run the land given to him by the King.

23
Q

Describe the building process of a stone castle.

A

It took several hundred men several years to complete one.

24
Q

What was used to keep the castle safe (describe each)?

A

Curtain walls: Enclosed the catle and protected those inside
Battlements: ran along the top of wall. Patrolled day and night
Towers/turrets: Built at regular intervals, especially at corners
Moat: Large ditch filled with water surrounding the castle
Windows of the keep were also small to conserve heat and make defence easier.

25
Q

What was inside of the keep?

A

The Lord’s apartments, great hall and chapel. Below was the dungeons, used to keep food cold and hold prisoners.

26
Q

What was inside the bailey?

A

Stables, workshops, kitchen, well for water and soldiers lodgings. If the castle was under attack, surrounding people and animals could be brought inside for protection.

27
Q

what was inside the gatehouse?

A

Drawbridge: Raised and lowered to control entry. Raised at night or during attack
Portcullis: Metal grid that could be lowered over gate if necessary.

28
Q

What made castles difficult targets?

A

High walls and well-armed soldiers.

29
Q

What was a siege?

A

An attacking army surrounded the castle and waited for surrender.

30
Q

What was done to protect castles from sieges?

A

Arrows fired from walls or boiling water/oil poured onto attackers. They were also built beside rivers or on hills.

31
Q

What was used to breach a castles walls?

A

Catapults, siege towers and tunnelling under walls.

32
Q

What invention caused castles to no longer be key to warfare?

A

Gunpowder brought from China during the 1400s sparked the idea for the cannon.

33
Q

Describe Noman marriages.

A

Often married at young ages to seal an alliance between the two families. A dowry (sum of money) was paid to the groom.

34
Q

What was the lady’s duties.

A

Her main duty was to bear children as heirs but she also taught the children, ran the household, instructing servants, supervising storage and preparation of food and acting for the Lord while he was away. She also played music and weaved.

35
Q

What were the Lord’s duties?

A

The Lord maintained order in his lands, act as a judge and train soldiers.

36
Q

What did the lord do in his leisure time?

A

He went hunting, hawking and held tournaments with mock battles and jousting contests.

37
Q

Where were feasts held?

A

In the great hall, which had big fireplaces and tapestries.

38
Q

What was eaten in a feast?

A

Beef, pork, mutton, duck, dear, pheasant and rabbit. Either farm animals or what the lord caught while hunting.

39
Q

How were meats kept fresh?

A

They were salted, smoked or dried.

40
Q

How was meat flavoured?

A

Herbs and expensive spice transported from Asia.

41
Q

How was food eaten?

A

Forks were not yet used in Europe and instead of plates, hard bread called trenchers were used.

42
Q

What entertainment was present during feasts?

A

Minstrels (musicians) and jesters (comic performers)

43
Q

What did they wear?

A

Men wore long tunics and trousers of fine wool or linen and women wore full length dresses.

44
Q

How was wealth shown through clothing?

A

Clothing was embroidered or dyed in vivid colours to show wealth. The richest nobles wore silk from Asia.

45
Q

Where did a Lord and his family live?

A

Upstairs in the keep near the chapel and a warm, sunny room called the solar.