This short enquiry asks your students to evaluate Marc Morris’s interpretation of the significance of the Norman Conquest.
To do this, they define what significance is and recall all they can about the Norman Conquest.
You then introduce a ripple diagram to evaluate changes (and continuities) that occurred during the Norman conquest. What was the legacy of each change? How long did it last?
By arming them with this knowledge your students are ready to unpick Morris’s view of the significance of the conquest. This allows them to see, to what extent they agree with him. It also allows them to understand that his view is a construct – an interpretation which they can analyse.
Like a classic historical enquiry, you can end by getting your students to answer the big question.
Download lesson
- Lesson presentation: PowerPoint
- Lesson write-up: PDF
- Worksheet 1 – Ripple diagram: PDF
- Worksheet 2 – Morris extract:PDF
