Interpretations of William's Claim to the Throne

History
Year 9 / GCSE / Grade 8
7 questions
~14 mins
1 views0 downloads

About This Worksheet

This worksheet explores different historical interpretations of William's rise to power, encouraging students to compare perspectives and evaluate their credibility.

Worksheet Preview

Full preview • 7 questions

Interpretations of William's Claim to the Throne

Subject: HistoryGrade: Year 9 / GCSE / Grade 8
Name:
Date:
TeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizz

Untitled Worksheet

Grade Year 9 / GCSE / Grade 8
A

Contrasting Historians' Views on William's Rise to Power

Historian A: David Starkey – Political Perspective

'William's success was primarily the result of his strategic political acumen and military skill. His ability to secure support from the Norman barons and manipulate alliances was crucial in establishing his claim and consolidating power. Starkey emphasizes William’s tactical intelligence and political planning as the key factors behind his victory and stability of his rule.'

Historian B: Susan Broomhall – Social Perspective

'William's rise was shaped significantly by social factors, including the support of the Norman aristocracy, the social upheaval following the conquest, and the importance of loyalty and landholding networks. Broomhall argues that the social landscape was fundamental in enabling William to succeed, highlighting the importance of social cohesion and aristocratic backing in maintaining power.'

B

Questions on Interpretations of William's Rise

1.
Summarize each historian's view on what helped William to succeed in gaining and maintaining power. (4 marks)
[4 marks]
2.
Compare the reasons given by Starkey and Broomhall for William's success. Why do they differ? (6 marks)
[6 marks]
3.
Evaluate which historian's view is more convincing and explain why. (8 marks)
[8 marks]
4.
Explain why historians might have different views about William's rise to power. (4 marks)
[4 marks]
5.
Outline the importance of social factors in William's rise, according to Broomhall. (4 marks)
[4 marks]
6.
Analyze how Starkey’s view complements or conflicts with Broomhall’s perspective. (6 marks)
[6 marks]
7.
Write a paragraph explaining which historian’s interpretation you find more convincing and why. (8 marks)
[8 marks]

Quick Actions

What is Remix?

Create a new worksheet based on this one. Change the grade level, topic, number of questions, or difficulty - then generate a fresh version.

  • • Change grade level (Grade 6 → Grade 7)
  • • Swap topics (Harry Potter → Macbeth)
  • • Add more questions (10 → 15)
  • • Adjust difficulty

Details

Created
1/1/2026
Updated
1/1/2026
Type
worksheet