Vocabulary & Concepts: Tactics at the Battle of Hastings
About This Worksheet
This worksheet helps students understand key vocabulary and tactical concepts related to the Battle of Hastings, encouraging analysis and comparison.
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Vocabulary & Concepts: Tactics at the Battle of Hastings
Untitled Worksheet
Vocabulary and Key Concepts in Battle Tactics
Vocabulary:
- Feigned retreat: A tactic where one side pretends to retreat to lure the enemy into a vulnerable position.
- Shield wall: A defensive formation where soldiers stand shoulder to shoulder with shields, creating a wall.
- Cavalry: Soldiers who fight on horseback, used for flanking or charging.
- Archers: Soldiers armed with bows and arrows, used for ranged attacks.
- Encirclement: A strategy to surround and trap the enemy from all sides.
Historical Context:
'The Battle of Hastings in 1066 was fought with a combination of traditional medieval tactics, including shield walls and cavalry charges. Both armies employed strategies to gain advantage over the other, with the Normans famously using feigned retreats to break the English shield wall.' Provenance: Historical account from a medieval historian.
Question 1
Define the term feigned retreat and explain how it was used by the Normans during the Battle of Hastings. (3 marks)
Question 2
Compare the use of cavalry and archers in the Battle of Hastings. How did each contribute to the Norman victory? (4 marks)
Question 3
Explain how the Normans' use of encirclement tactics affected the outcome of the battle. (3 marks)
Question 4
Outline the main tactics used by the English army during the Battle of Hastings. (3 marks)
Question 5
Analyse why the Normans' tactics were more effective than the English tactics in the Battle of Hastings. (4 marks)
Question 6
Compare the effectiveness of the shield wall with cavalry charges at Hastings. Which was more successful and why? (4 marks)
Question 7
Outline how the Norman tactics at Hastings influenced future medieval warfare. (3 marks)
Question 8
Analyse the importance of tactics in determining the outcome of the Battle of Hastings. (4 marks)
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Details
- Created
- 1/1/2026
- Updated
- 1/1/2026
- Type
- worksheet