Paper 2 Section B/A: Norman England, c1066–c1100

June 2021

Q1: How convincing is Interpretation A about English village life after the Norman

Conquest? Explain your answer based on your contextual knowledge and what it says in Interpretation A.

Answer:

For example, the interpretation is convincing because William left the structure of landholding the same apart from giving some extra to the church. The Forest laws were new and stopped peasants hunting to supplement their diets particularly in winter when food supplies are running low. Peasants might also be fined if a Norman was killed and they would have to pay a murdrum fine. Most Norman lords looked upon their English land as a source of income and might not spend much time there. more than one aspect of the interpretation. For example, the interpretation is convincing because it is true that the Normans increased rent and taxes and much of the money went back to Normandy but otherwise life stayed the same. Strip farming was normal, growing wheat, rye, and barley and it was always a struggle to get enough food to survive the winter months. The nobles depended for their own food on the majority of the population farming the land. For example, the peasants still had a Lord it was just that it was now a Norman one. Peasants still ate the same basic food that is bread, porridge or vegetable The Forest laws were meant to protect the animals so that the nobles could hunt them. Peasants had been used to poaching so they would not like the new Forest laws. Answers may show understanding/support for interpretation, but the case is For example, after the Norman Conquest village life for most Anglo-Saxons remained the same because it was a hard life to produce enough food to survive every year. Most people worked on the land.

Q2: Explain what was important about learning and education in Norman England.

Answer:

the consequences of the stated development (learning and education) in the For example, with the reform of the monasteries, education happened more in grammar schools which were built for example in Northampton, Exeter, Lincoln and Oxford. Grammar schools educating children at the age of 10 for about four years. They learned Latin grammar as well as how to write and speak the For example, the church controlled schools where they taught Latin, music, mathematics and law. As it was needed for future priests and monks and music for the church services. Astronomy and mathematics helped them work out the church calendar. Education was about producing priests and some children of nobles were educated. The Normans had a big influence on the language of England, that it was the official language many people spoke Norman-French which was spoken by the upper classes and gradually absorbed Anglo-Saxon words to become Anglo- Norman but the peasants still spoke English. the identified consequences, supporting by factual knowledge and For example, the Normans increased the number of schools and French began to influence the English language but Latin was still used for writing and was the language of Christianity. For example, the church dominated learning and education in England at this

Q3: Write an account of the ways in which the legal system changed under the Normans.

Answer:

reasoning supported by a range of accurate and detailed factual knowledge and understanding. For example, an explanation of different impacts/ consequences of change in the broader historical context. For example, the Normans changed the way land is inherited because under the Anglo-Saxons it was common to divide up land amongst families. As the Normans wanted to keep estates intact and therefore control an area after a death, the Normans introduced the idea of primogeniture by which the eldest son inherited the land or titles from his father. The Normans also increased their control by introducing murdrum fines to stop Anglo-Saxons killing Norman knights and earls. For example, the Normans kept much of the Anglo-Saxon system. But William created many more earldoms than in Anglo-Saxon times based on Shire towns. New castles with Courts were run by the sheriff in these Shire towns. The Shire courts which collected taxes and raised armies declined in importance as honorial courts took over. Royal officials were often sent to oversee these courts. Gradually the Anglo-Saxon sheriffs were replaced with Norman ones because loyal sheriffs were vital to keep control over the kingdom. The Normans kept much of the Anglo-Saxon system for symbolic reasons as it reinforced the idea that the Normans were lawful rulers. simple understanding of consequence(s) with supported with factual For example, the Normans continued to use the Shire courts and hundred courts from Anglo-Saxon times. However the influence of the Shire courts declined as the honorial courts were used more frequently for local issues often about the land. For example, the Normans introduced ordeal by combat where you had to prove that you were innocent by fighting. should demonstrate their ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent, relevant, substantiated and logically structured.

Q4: ‘The main reason for castle building during the Norman period was to impress.’

How far does a study of the White Tower support this statement? Explain your answer. You should refer to the White Tower and your contextual knowledge. and AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements. If you have any queries please contact the Copyright Team.

Answer:

To support their answer students could include aspects of the site such as: location, function, structure, design, people connected with the site, how the site reflects culture, values and fashions of the time and how the site links to important events and/or developments of the specified period. understanding of the site. For example, the White Tower was a multifunction building. From the outside it certainly impressed. The Anglo-Saxons would not have seen anything like it. It dominated the most important town in the country. It kept a potentially rebellious population under control. It partly had a residential function but might not have been luxuriously comfortable, however it was acceptable in dangerous times and therefore could be a place of retreat. It could also be used as a meeting place to overawe visitors with its stark, powerful features. It served a deeply symbolic function for the Normans, and the conquered Anglo- Answers may suggest that one factor has greater merit. and understanding of the site. For example, the White Tower was built deliberately in London to impress the inhabitants. London had supplied Harold soldiers after he marched south from the battle of Stamford Bridge to confront William at Hastings. London was a crucial trading port. William did not want to damage it so he marched clockwise from the West around it, destroying the hinterland in order to bring the Londoners to accept him. After a wooden castle, he built the White Tower to remind them that he was in control. For example, the White Tower was designed to control London through its size, height and thickness of the walls, all of which provided safety. It had some defensive features, such as the original entrance which was on the first floor so the wooden steps could be removed and the sunken roof protected it from missiles thrown by catapult. Its main feature was to overawe and deter any hostile action. Internally it had a residential function and could be used as a meeting place for government work. causation by simple reasoning supported with factual knowledge and understanding of the site. For example, the White Tower along with Montfichet Tower and Baynard’s Castle were meant to dominate the city and the River crossing to Southwark. The Motte and Bailey castles became symbols of the Norman conquest and they were dotted across the countryside by the Normans everywhere they For example, the White Tower was an impressive stone building, something which Anglo-Saxons had never seen before on this scale. It was designed to intimidate the Londoners.