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Answers to AQA GCSE History Migration
British History (University of Oxford)
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Answers
1.1 The Viking invasions
Test Yourself
1. What was the Danelaw?
The historical name given to the part of England in which the laws of the Danes held sway and
dominated those of the Anglo-Saxons.
2. Where was the first Viking attack on a Monastery?
Lindisfarne
3. Explain the term Danegeld.
The Danegeld was a tax raised to pay tribute to the Viking raiders to save a land from being ravaged.
It was called the geld or gafol in eleventh-century sources
Role of factors
Question 4 of your exam will ask you to explain the role of factors in causing an event. Write some
sentences to explain how the following were factors in the Viking invasions. One is completed for
you as an example.
Factor Explanation
Science and technology Longships enabled the Vikings to invade and conquer parts of the
England. They were sturdy and strong so they were able to travel
long distances over the sea but they were also small enough to travel
deep inland via rivers. They carried the Viking invaders with enough
room to carry captured slaves and the riches they collected.
War Vikings used war (or fighting and physical force) to invade and first
plunder and then conquer. Viking Longships were the height of
modern weapons technology.
Religion Vikings were Heathens. Their religion valued physical strength,
warriors and war which encourage Vikings to invade. Anglo Saxons
were Christian. Vikings made no attempt to convert Anglo Saxons.
Christianity was a unifying force for Anglo Saxons which enabled
them to fight back.
Economic resources Vikings invaded to gain wealth in the form of gold and slaves. Vikings
were excellent traders and Enslavement was at the heart of this.
Dublin was a major slave trade town.
Practice question
Explain the significance of the Viking invasion on Britain. [8 Marks]
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The Vikings invasions had a significant impact on Britain. Their initial aim was to gain wealth and
prestige. The first Viking attack was in 793 at Lindisfarne in Northumbria at the monastery which was
a shrine to St. Cuthbert. Vikings then began to spread terror along the coast and inland as they
invaded looking for more riches to plunder. Most British people were terrified of the fierce Vikings
who did not seem afraid of death. Militarily, England was an easy target because it was politically
divided. If one area was well defended, the Vikings just attacked another looking for gold and people
to enslave. Monasteries and churches contained many riches as many religious objects were made
from gold. Rich and powerful English people would leave large donations of gold and precious
objects at monasteries and the monks would pray for their souls in return. Monasteries were easy to
attack because they were undefended. Vikings also enslaved people, trafficked them in their
longships and sold them. Monks were highly valued - they were well educated, easy to capture as
they did not fight back. This was significant because British people were deeply Christian so they
resented the attacks on their religion.
In the longer term, the Viking raids were significant because, after 865, the reason for Viking
invasions changed and they wanted to conquer and colonise England to expand their trading routes,
gain the prestige of an Empire and settle and farm in the fertile country. They made York their
capital and established Dublin as their main trading centre for those they enslaved. Anglo-Saxons
who lived in the Danelaw were not forced to change their religion and remained Christian. After a
while Danes and Anglo-Saxons lived together peacefully in Danelaw. There was intermarriage and a
merging of Anglo-Dane cultures, laws, food and language. Common English words such as
Wednesday, Thursday, skin and sky are Norse. This was very significant for British people as it meant
they were living among ‘foreigners’ who brought new ideas and customs.
1.2 The Anglo-Saxons fight back against Viking rule
Test yourself
1. Give three examples of how Alfred ruled as king?
Any 3 such as:
• Alfred united the Anglo-Saxons to fight for him by promoting himself as the defender of
Christianity against heathens.
• Alfred introduced a new law code
• He also introduced schools to train priests
• Introduced secular administrators such as judges, to help run the country
• Alfred encouraged the nobles at court to study as well as fight.
• Tried to make peace with the Vikings but also build strong defensive fortresses and trained
soldiers to guard them. Created the English navy as another form of defence.
2. Why did Aethelred, King of England marry Emma of Normandy?
Since the early 900s the Danes had ruled Normandy and used Normandy as a base to raid
England. Emma was the sister of Normandy’s ruler, Duke Richard II so Aethelred and his
advisors secured a STRATEGIC marriage with Emma in spring 1002 to try and stop invasions
on England from Normandy.
3. Why did many Vikings stay when their warriors left?
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Many second or third generation migrants remained to farm and trade. Many had married
Anglo-Saxons and now considered England their home.
Key individuals
Creating contacts cards for the key individuals is a great way of organising your thoughts on how
historical factors have affected individuals and how key individuals have affected historical factors.
Use this as your template to complete contact cards when asked to do so throughout the book.
Key individual Alfred the Great
War Fought many battles with the Danes, eventually beating them in 878. The
peace treaty split England between Alfred and Guthrum.
Religion Alfred managed to unite the Anglo-Saxons to fight for him by promoting
himself as the defender of Christianity against heathens.
Government Alfred is remembered as a wise ruler who introduced a new law code,
schools to train priests and secular administrators (judges etc.) and
encouraged the nobles at court to study as well as fight.
Economic N/A
resources
Science and Used the latest military techniques to fight Vikings.
technology
Ideas According to a commissioned biography by Bishop Asser, Alfred was a brave,
resourceful and religious man who was generous to the Church and wanted
to rule fairly.
His main aim was to unify England under God and defeat the Danes.
Key events
Complete the flow chart to summarise how England became one country.
First Viking raid Viking invasions Alfred the Guthrum was 927 England is
792 for plunder led to Great’s armies defeated by united
attempts to eventually Alfred at the
Vikings attack conquer. By 877 managed to Battle of Athelstan is the
Lindisfarne in Wessex was the defeat the Edington in 878 first king to
Northumbria only Anglo-Saxon Vikings and even and converted to control the
kingdom that win back some Christianity in whole of England
hadn’t been territory. Alfred exchange for
conquered by wanted England continuing as
Danes at all. to be a united King of East
country and his Anglia.
victories made
this seem He became allies
possible. with Alfred and
defended
Alfred’s interests
in East Anglia
against any
future attacks
Downloaded by olinder seth ()
Answers to AQA GCSE History Migration
British History (University of Oxford)
Scan to open on Studocu
Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university
Downloaded by olinder seth ()
, lOMoARcPSD|59658805
Answers
1.1 The Viking invasions
Test Yourself
1. What was the Danelaw?
The historical name given to the part of England in which the laws of the Danes held sway and
dominated those of the Anglo-Saxons.
2. Where was the first Viking attack on a Monastery?
Lindisfarne
3. Explain the term Danegeld.
The Danegeld was a tax raised to pay tribute to the Viking raiders to save a land from being ravaged.
It was called the geld or gafol in eleventh-century sources
Role of factors
Question 4 of your exam will ask you to explain the role of factors in causing an event. Write some
sentences to explain how the following were factors in the Viking invasions. One is completed for
you as an example.
Factor Explanation
Science and technology Longships enabled the Vikings to invade and conquer parts of the
England. They were sturdy and strong so they were able to travel
long distances over the sea but they were also small enough to travel
deep inland via rivers. They carried the Viking invaders with enough
room to carry captured slaves and the riches they collected.
War Vikings used war (or fighting and physical force) to invade and first
plunder and then conquer. Viking Longships were the height of
modern weapons technology.
Religion Vikings were Heathens. Their religion valued physical strength,
warriors and war which encourage Vikings to invade. Anglo Saxons
were Christian. Vikings made no attempt to convert Anglo Saxons.
Christianity was a unifying force for Anglo Saxons which enabled
them to fight back.
Economic resources Vikings invaded to gain wealth in the form of gold and slaves. Vikings
were excellent traders and Enslavement was at the heart of this.
Dublin was a major slave trade town.
Practice question
Explain the significance of the Viking invasion on Britain. [8 Marks]
Downloaded by olinder seth ()
, lOMoARcPSD|59658805
The Vikings invasions had a significant impact on Britain. Their initial aim was to gain wealth and
prestige. The first Viking attack was in 793 at Lindisfarne in Northumbria at the monastery which was
a shrine to St. Cuthbert. Vikings then began to spread terror along the coast and inland as they
invaded looking for more riches to plunder. Most British people were terrified of the fierce Vikings
who did not seem afraid of death. Militarily, England was an easy target because it was politically
divided. If one area was well defended, the Vikings just attacked another looking for gold and people
to enslave. Monasteries and churches contained many riches as many religious objects were made
from gold. Rich and powerful English people would leave large donations of gold and precious
objects at monasteries and the monks would pray for their souls in return. Monasteries were easy to
attack because they were undefended. Vikings also enslaved people, trafficked them in their
longships and sold them. Monks were highly valued - they were well educated, easy to capture as
they did not fight back. This was significant because British people were deeply Christian so they
resented the attacks on their religion.
In the longer term, the Viking raids were significant because, after 865, the reason for Viking
invasions changed and they wanted to conquer and colonise England to expand their trading routes,
gain the prestige of an Empire and settle and farm in the fertile country. They made York their
capital and established Dublin as their main trading centre for those they enslaved. Anglo-Saxons
who lived in the Danelaw were not forced to change their religion and remained Christian. After a
while Danes and Anglo-Saxons lived together peacefully in Danelaw. There was intermarriage and a
merging of Anglo-Dane cultures, laws, food and language. Common English words such as
Wednesday, Thursday, skin and sky are Norse. This was very significant for British people as it meant
they were living among ‘foreigners’ who brought new ideas and customs.
1.2 The Anglo-Saxons fight back against Viking rule
Test yourself
1. Give three examples of how Alfred ruled as king?
Any 3 such as:
• Alfred united the Anglo-Saxons to fight for him by promoting himself as the defender of
Christianity against heathens.
• Alfred introduced a new law code
• He also introduced schools to train priests
• Introduced secular administrators such as judges, to help run the country
• Alfred encouraged the nobles at court to study as well as fight.
• Tried to make peace with the Vikings but also build strong defensive fortresses and trained
soldiers to guard them. Created the English navy as another form of defence.
2. Why did Aethelred, King of England marry Emma of Normandy?
Since the early 900s the Danes had ruled Normandy and used Normandy as a base to raid
England. Emma was the sister of Normandy’s ruler, Duke Richard II so Aethelred and his
advisors secured a STRATEGIC marriage with Emma in spring 1002 to try and stop invasions
on England from Normandy.
3. Why did many Vikings stay when their warriors left?
Downloaded by olinder seth ()
, lOMoARcPSD|59658805
Many second or third generation migrants remained to farm and trade. Many had married
Anglo-Saxons and now considered England their home.
Key individuals
Creating contacts cards for the key individuals is a great way of organising your thoughts on how
historical factors have affected individuals and how key individuals have affected historical factors.
Use this as your template to complete contact cards when asked to do so throughout the book.
Key individual Alfred the Great
War Fought many battles with the Danes, eventually beating them in 878. The
peace treaty split England between Alfred and Guthrum.
Religion Alfred managed to unite the Anglo-Saxons to fight for him by promoting
himself as the defender of Christianity against heathens.
Government Alfred is remembered as a wise ruler who introduced a new law code,
schools to train priests and secular administrators (judges etc.) and
encouraged the nobles at court to study as well as fight.
Economic N/A
resources
Science and Used the latest military techniques to fight Vikings.
technology
Ideas According to a commissioned biography by Bishop Asser, Alfred was a brave,
resourceful and religious man who was generous to the Church and wanted
to rule fairly.
His main aim was to unify England under God and defeat the Danes.
Key events
Complete the flow chart to summarise how England became one country.
First Viking raid Viking invasions Alfred the Guthrum was 927 England is
792 for plunder led to Great’s armies defeated by united
attempts to eventually Alfred at the
Vikings attack conquer. By 877 managed to Battle of Athelstan is the
Lindisfarne in Wessex was the defeat the Edington in 878 first king to
Northumbria only Anglo-Saxon Vikings and even and converted to control the
kingdom that win back some Christianity in whole of England
hadn’t been territory. Alfred exchange for
conquered by wanted England continuing as
Danes at all. to be a united King of East
country and his Anglia.
victories made
this seem He became allies
possible. with Alfred and
defended
Alfred’s interests
in East Anglia
against any
future attacks
Downloaded by olinder seth ()
