Summary- Britain: Migration, Empires & The People: c790 - Present Day
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History
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GCSE
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Britain: Migration, Empires & The People: c790 - Present Day
Part One: Conquered & Conquerors
1) Invasion: Vikings and Anglo Saxons; reasons for Viking invasions; creation of the Danelaw; Alfred and
Wessex; King Cnut, Emma of Normandy and the North Sea empire.
a) Vikings and Anglo Saxons
a. Anglo-Saxons:
1. Anglo-Saxons were people who migrated to England from parts of Central Europe
from 5th century- ruled for approx. 300 years
2. Science + Technology: education was important to Anglo Saxons- written historical
records began e.g. ‘Anglo-Saxons chronicle’
3. Religion: most Christians- Anglo Saxons had approx. 1/3 of a year given as holiday
due to Religious festivals
4. Government: everybody had a life price called a ‘wergild’ meaning that murder
became rare because could be costly
5. Under the Anglo Saxons England was divided into 7 kingdoms known as the
Heptarchy [Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex, East Anglia, Essex, Kent, and Sussex]
6. These 7 kingdoms often at war with each other so England unstable + risk of
invasion
b. Vikings:
Vikings were from Denmark + Norway- reputation for being fierce, egger to kill +
unafraid of death
They started to invade England from 792 onwards
Science + technology: Vikings travelled in long boasts that were strong enough to
travel from Denmark to England but narrow enough to travel inland along rivers
Impacts of the Viking invasion:
1. Short term: Britain as the Vikings brought their own distinct laws, names,
measurements and skilled crafts which has influenced Britain today.
2. Long term: current days of the week where influenced by the Danelaw. E.g., Thursday is
named after Thor the Norse God of Thunder, Friday which is named after Freya the
Goddess of love. In addition to this we use many words today which have Viking origin
such as egg, bread and sister.
b) Reasons for Viking invasion:
a. Easy target:
England island = huge coast line which open to attack from the sea, making it an easy
target for the Vikings + their long ships
England divided into 7 kingdoms which often fighting with one another
If one king put up a strong enough fight against the Vikings, they would turn their
attacks on another kingdom in the meantime- this way Vikings were able to take over
most of England kingdom by kingdom:
1. Northumbria feel to Viking 867
2. East Anglia fell in 869
3. Mercia fell in 874
b. Wealth:
England was one of the Wealthiest countries in European the time
It was home to many monasteries and theses monasteries were full of gold, valuable +
precious artefacts, and unprotected
For example: Raid on Lindisfarne in AD793
c) Viking Invasion:
a. Danegeld:
These ministries were a key target for the Vikings as – once English Kingdoms started
to fall to Viking, parts of country decided to pay the Vikings to leave this was called the
Danegeld. This worked until Vikings decided they wanted to conquer anyway
, b. Grate Heathen Army 865
865 first serious attack by Viking army- known as grate Heather Army
Grate Heathen army was different to previous Viking raids Vikings wanted to settle
rather than just raid and plunder
The Grate Heathen Army attacked York, the capital of Northumbria
They then took York as their capital + used it as a base from which to conquer rest of
England
Better 865-874 Great Heathen Army conquered huge strips of England + Viking people
steeled in them
d) Creation of the Danelaw
a. The Danelaw was territory in England that was controlled by the Viking
The borders of the land were agreed in the Anglo-Saxon/Viking treaty in 878
By 878 about 80 years after the 1st Viking invasion1/2 of England was controlled by
Vikings [part of the Danelaw]
All of the kingdoms had been either fully or partially conquered apart from Wessex
b. The Danelaw was controlled by the Viking king Guthrum
He had been one of the leaders of the Grate Heathen Army
He was a skilled warrior
He wanted to conquer Wessex but failed- 878 failed to conquer Wessex due to the
Anglo-Saxon king Alfred the Grate
e) Alfred and Wessex
a. Alfred the Great: individual genius
Alfred the Great was king of Wessex from 871
By 878 Wessex was the only surviving Anglo-Saxon kingdom
Alfred wanted to unite England as one country + defeat Vikings
In 878 Alfred gathered a large army to fight the Vikings
War: Alfred’s army defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Edington 878 and Vikings
forced to surrender, Guthrum was forced to convert to Christianity
Alfred had managed to unite most of England as one country, after years of it being
ruled as separated kingdoms
b. Alfred the grates impacts individual genius:
New defences science + technology:
1. following his victory Alfred reorganised the English army
2. established strong fortresses across the country to protect against further attack
3. He created a English navy to protect England as island nation from attack by sea
Education:
1. He encouraged education so that the country could be governed effectively
2. He set up school + encouraged nobles to read + study
House of Wessex:
1. Established house of Wessex as the reigning Kingdom in England
2. Queen Eliz II England is 32nd grate granddaughter of Alfred the Great
f) King Cnut:
a. A Viking prince Cunt was king of England after Aethelred and ruled for 19 years establishing the
vast North Sea Empire
b. Saxon rival war:
After Alfred the Grate defeated the Vikings, the Viking threat was greatly reduced
Alfred's grandson Athelstan defeated the Vikings again at the Battle of Brunanburh in
937 & England experience a period of peace
However, in 980, Viking invasion again led to a period of war between the Anglo-
Saxons + Vikings
By 1013 Viking king Sweyn had defeated Anglo-Saxon King Aethelred who fled into
exile
c. King Cnut becomes king:
When Sweyn died in 1014 his sun Cnut took over
Cnut conquered whole of England over next couple of years + declared himself king of
England in 1016
1. 1016- Cnut becomes king of England
, 2. 1017- marries Emma of Normandy
3. 1018- Cnut becomes king of Denmark
4. 1028- Cnut becomes king of Norway
d. Impact of king Cnut: individual Genius
Earldoms:
1. Cnut ruled England for 19 years
2. He divided kingdom into earldoms with individual earls ruling each one- in order
to rune country effectively
3. His reign was peaceful- as most of his Viking soldiers returned to Denmark
Religion:
1. Cnut encouraged religion in England to thrive
2. He was on good terms with the Pope and visited him in Rome
Empire:
1. In 1018 Cnut became king of Denmark + in 1028 he became king of Norway
2. He was therefore the ruler of an Empire that stretched from England’s across
the North Sea + Scandinavia
g) Emma if Normandy
a. In 1017 King Cnut married Emma of Normandy
Emma of Normandy [Normandy is what France was called at during this time] married
king Cnut in 1017
She became very influential in English society, & worked alongside her husband to
promote peace in England + support the Christian church
b. Succession:
When Cnut died in 1035, Emma wanted to ensure that one of her sons could become
king of England + even wrote a book that explained her sons’ rights
In 1040 her and Cnut’s son Harthacut became king, & in 1042 his brother Edward became King
Edward ruled until 1066 when William the Conqueror invaded
1. 1017 Emma marries King Cnut
2. 1039 Cnut dies
3. 1040 Cnut’s son Harthacut becomes king
4. 1042 Harthacut Brother Edward becomes king
h) North Sea Empire:
a. In 1018 Cnut became king of Denmark
b. In 1028 he became king of Norway
c. He was therefore the ruler of an Empire that stretched from England’s across the North Sea +
Scandinavia
2) A Norman Kingdom and ‘Angevin’ Empire: relationship between England and France; Henry II; invasion of
Ireland; losses under King John.
1) Foundations for the Angevin Empire:
In 1066 the Vikings were defeated by the Normans in the Battle of Hastings
After 1066 and the Norman invasion Kings of England also controlled important areas of France
2) Formation of Normandy:
From mid-800s the Viking began to set their sights on France as well as England
France had paid the Viking to retreat- however after a while the French king gave into the
Vikings + granted their leader Rollo much of Norther France
1. These Vikings became known as North men and this land became known as Normandy
3) How Normans came to Rule England
In 1066 English King Edward [the confessor] died + there were 3 claims to the thrown
1. Harold Godwinson [English]
2. Herald Hardrada [Viking related to King Cnut]
3. William of Normandy [duke of Normandy]
Battle of Stamford Bridge:
1. First Harold G and Harold H fought each other in the Battle of Stamford Bridge
2. Harold G was successful + Harold H was killed ending the Viking claims to the English
throne
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