Efficient Revision Techniques

• Active revision techniques should be used to maximize learning in a short time.

Prioritizing Key Topics

• Focus on the most important facts within the main topics.
• Key topics include the Norman Conquest, how William gained control, Thomas Becket, King John, and the Mali Empire.

Quick Revision Techniques

• Condense notes into a one-page summary for each topic using bullet points and mind maps.
• Teach someone a topic out loud to identify areas needing further review.
• Use flashcards to quickly test knowledge of key terms and definitions.
• Practice potential exam questions, answering in bullet points to save time.
• The PEEL method can be used for longer answers (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link).

Night Before The Test

• Review until 9-10 PM, then sleep – avoid late-night cramming.
• Skim over notes in the morning, focusing on weak areas.
• Eat a good breakfast and stay hydrated to keep your brain sharp.
• Stay calm and confident; if something is forgotten, move on and come back to it later.

Emergency Cramming Plan

• Read notes (20 mins per topic).
• Write key facts from memory.
• Do 5–10 quick practice questions.
• Recite key facts out loud.

The Norman Conquest (1066)

• King Edward the Confessor died in January 1066 with no heir.
• Three main claimants: Harold Godwinson, William of Normandy, and Harald Hardrada.
• The Battle of Fulford (20 Sept 1066) saw Hardrada defeat northern English earls.
• Harold Godwinson defeated Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge (25 Sept 1066).
• At the Battle of Hastings (14 Oct 1066), William’s Norman forces defeated Harold’s army; Harold was killed.
• Consequences included the introduction of the feudal system and the Harrying of the North (1069–1070).
• The Domesday Book (1086) surveyed England’s wealth for taxation and control.
• Over 500 motte-and-bailey castles were built for defense and control.
• French words influenced English, especially in law and government.

How William Gained Control Over England

• Castles were built to control key areas and suppress rebellion.
• William had an experienced Norman cavalry and archers to enforce rule.
• The feudal system was implemented: King → Barons → Knights → Peasants.
• Barons received land in exchange for military service.
• Anglo-Saxon nobility were replaced as Normans took over key positions in government and the Church.
• Lanfranc replaced Stigand as Archbishop of Canterbury.
• Ties with the Pope were strengthened while keeping royal control over the Church.
• The Harrying of the North (1069–1070) burned farms, killed livestock, and destroyed villages to crush northern rebellion.
• Rebels faced execution or mutilation.

Thomas Becket and Henry II

• Henry II (1154–1189) wanted more control over the Church.
• Thomas Becket was appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162, Henry II expected loyalty.
• Becket defended Church rights against royal interference.
• The Constitutions of Clarendon (1164) was Henry’s attempt to limit Church power, which Becket opposed.
• Becket fled to France but later returned, continuing his defiance.
• Henry allegedly said, "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?"
• Four knights killed Becket inside Canterbury Cathedral in 1170.
• Becket became a martyr and was later canonized as a saint.
• Henry was forced to do public penance in 1174.
• The power of the Church was strengthened against royal interference.

King John and the Magna Carta (1215)

• John (reigned 1199–1216) was the son of Henry II and younger brother of Richard the Lionheart.
• Normandy was lost to France in 1204, leading to high taxes to fund wars.
• John clashed with Pope Innocent III over the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
• He was excommunicated by the Pope, later forced to submit.
• Military failures and high taxes (scutage) led to the Magna Carta.
• Barons were arrested without trial.
• Key clauses of Magna Carta (1215): no taxation without barons’ consent, right to a fair trial, and the king must obey the law.
• John ignored Magna Carta, leading to the First Barons’ War (1215–1217).
• John died in 1216, and his son Henry III reissued the Magna Carta.
• It became a key foundation for constitutional law in England.

The Mali Empire (c. 1235–1600)

• Founded by Sundiata Keita after defeating the Sosso Kingdom at the Battle of Kirina (1235).
• Controlled gold and salt trade.
• Mali was one of the wealthiest empires.
• Mansa Musa (1312–1337) expanded the Empire by conquering new territories.
• Mansa Musa's famous Hajj (1324) traveled to Mecca with vast wealth, giving away gold (causing inflation in Cairo), and enhanced Mali’s reputation worldwide.
• Timbuktu became a center of Islamic learning.
• The University of Sankore was established as a major intellectual hub.
• After Mansa Musa, rulers struggled to maintain control.
• The Tuareg Invasion (1433) resulted in the loss of control of Timbuktu.
• The rise of the Songhai Empire eventually overtook Mali’s dominance in West Africa.

King John vs. William the Conqueror

• William seized power through military victory after the Battle of Hastings (1066) and was widely feared.
• John inherited power in 1199 but struggled to keep it due to weak leadership and opposition.
• William expanded and controlled his territory through force.
• John lost land and weakened England’s power in Europe, losing key lands in France, including Normandy in 1204, and earning the nickname "Softsword".
• William was respected and feared by the barons, using the feudal system to control them.
• John was hated by the barons and forced to give up power, increasing taxes and ignoring their rights. Led to the signing of the Magna Carta (1215).
• William balanced royal and religious power, replacing Anglo-Saxon bishops with Normans while remaining on good terms with Rome.
• John angered the Pope and lost Church support, clashing over the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury (1205–1213), leading to excommunication.
• William left a strong, stable kingdom, remembered as a strong and effective ruler.
• John left England in crisis, leading to a civil war, remembered as a weak and unpopular king.

Causes, Key Events, Consequences

• For each topic, remember to include causes (why did it happen?), key events (what happened?), and consequences (what was the impact?)