History Quiz: The Battle of Hastings and Vikings

Study Notes

The Battle of Hastings (1066)

Marked the last successful foreign invasion of Britain
Harold II of England was defeated by William, Duke of Normandy
Normans were skilled archers and mounted warriors, while Harold's army consisted of foot soldiers.
Harold was killed by an arrow wound.
The battle had a profound impact on England, leading to Norman rule and unifying the country under a monarchy.

Viking Kings

Large-scale Viking attacks returned to England in the 990s.
England paid the Danegeld, a form of protection money, to the Vikings to avoid attacks.
In 1012, the Archbishop of Canterbury was murdered, and within a year, Sweyn Forkbeard, a Danish king, took the English throne.
Canute, Sweyn's son, ruled a North Sea empire encompassing Denmark, Norway, and England, ending the Viking attacks.
Canute's reign (1016-1035) was followed by Edward the Confessor, who focused on religion and built Westminster Abbey.

Alfred the Great and his descendants

Alfred's son Edward (899-924) extended English power throughout the Midlands and East Anglia.
Athelstan (Edward's son) conquered the last unconquered kingdom of Northumbria in 927, uniting England under one rule.
Athelstan is considered the father of the English state for creating a kingdom of England based on royal governance, laws, and coinage.

The Norman Conquest

The Normans, a Viking group, had settled in Northern France.
William, Duke of Normandy, claimed the English throne as he was distantly related to Edward the Confessor.
William invaded Britain and defeated Harold II at Hastings in 1066, as documented in the Bayeux Tapestry.
William (William I) was crowned King of England on Christmas Day of the same year.
Almost all subsequent English monarchs were crowned at Westminster Abbey.

Key Figures and Dates

Alfred's son Edward: 899-924, Expanded English power and was a crucial war leader.
Athelstan: Conquered Northumbria and created a unified England.
Sweyn Forkbeard: Danish King, took the English throne.
Canute: 1016-1035, Ruler of a vast North Sea Empire.
Edward the Confessor: 1042-1066, Focused on religion and built Westminster Abbey.
Harold II: Last Anglo-Saxon king, lost the Battle of Hastings.
William I: 1066-1087, Norman king, ruled after Hastings; crucial in forming the English Monarchy.

Roman Britain

Julius Caesar invaded Britain in 55 and 54 BC, but the real conquest began in 43-47 AD under Emperor Claudius.
The Romans encouraged the growth of towns near their army bases, which had vibrant commercial activity.
They built over 9,600 km of paved roads in Britain which remained in use for centuries.
The origins of London can be traced to the Roman invasion.
The Romans built the first London Bridge on the River Thames, becoming the central point for the new system on the north side of the bridge.
They called their settlement Londinium, which soon turned into an important trading center.
The most important monument built by the Romans in Britain was Hadrian's Wall, constructed as a defensive fortification.
It ran from the east coast to the west coast between today's England and Scotland.
In 409 AD, Emperor Honorius withdrew his soldiers to defend Rome against Barbarian raiders.
The Romanized Celts were left alone to fight against the Anglo-Saxon peoples from Germany and Scandinavia, who invaded the island in the 5th century and destroyed the Roman British towns.

Qualities of a State

A flag
People sharing the same culture
A territory with defined boundaries
A system of laws
Legitimate authority
Its own currency
Sovereignty over a territory and its people

Description

Test your knowledge on significant events such as the Battle of Hastings and the Viking incursions in England. This quiz covers key figures like Harold II and William the Conqueror, as well as the influential rulers like Alfred the Great. Prepare to explore the impact of these historical events on England's monarchy.