Question 1: Who was the king of England before the Norman Conquest, and who claimed the throne after the death of Edward the Confessor?

Answer: The king before the conquest was Edward the Confessor. After his death, Harold Godwinson claimed the throne.

Question 2: Describe the events that led to William, Duke of Normandy, claiming the English throne.

Answer: William claimed that Edward had promised him the throne and that Harold Godwinson had sworn to support him. When Harold was crowned king, William invaded England to assert his claim.

Question 3: Explain the significance of the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Answer: The Battle of Hastings was a decisive Norman victory that led to William becoming King of England, marking the beginning of Norman rule.

Question 4: List three ways in which William changed England after the conquest.

Answer: William built castles to secure control, replaced English nobles with Normans, and introduced a new legal system.

Question 5: What was the purpose of building castles like the Tower of London after 1066?

Answer: Castles were built to defend Norman territory and to control the local population.

Question 6: Draw a simple sketch of a medieval castle. Label the main parts such as the keep, walls, and gatehouse.

Answer: A correct sketch would show a large stone wall enclosing a central tower (keep), a gatehouse at the entrance, and possibly a moat around the castle.

Question 7: Describe what life might have been like for a peasant living under Norman rule.

Answer: Peasants worked on the land, paid taxes to Norman lords, and had limited rights. Life was hard and controlled by the local Norman noble.

Question 8: Identify one reason why William’s conquest was considered a turning point in English history.

Answer: It introduced Norman culture, language, and governance, fundamentally changing English society.

Question 9: Explain the concept of 'Feudalism' as it was practiced in Norman England.

Answer: Feudalism was a social system where kings granted land to nobles in exchange for loyalty and military service. Nobles then allowed peasants to work the land.

Question 10: What was the Domesday Book, and why was it created by William?

Answer: The Domesday Book was a survey of all the land and property in England, created to assess taxes and resources for the new Norman rulers.