History

Revision Guide
Year 7

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History Revision Pack
This pack is designed to support your revision through reminders of exam structure, revision and writing PEEL
paragraphs. You can also find many practice questions included that can be used to practice exam skills. You should
also seek advice and feedback from your teacher and use this to help you.

History: Topic list Term 1

Topics Link to resources / revision
Harold Godwinson: Study the life and reign of Harold Teams PowerPoint and class notes
Godwinson, who became the King of England in 1066
and faced multiple challenges.
The Norman Conquest: Understand the events and Teams PowerPoint and class notes
significance of the Norman Conquest, including the
Battle of Hastings and William the Conqueror's claim to
the English throne.
William the Conqueror: Explore the life and reign of Teams PowerPoint and class notes-
William the Conqueror, his background, and the
changes he implemented in England after his victory.
Structure of the End of Year Test Paper
The test will be made up of multiple-choice questions, definitions and PEEL paragraph answers.

Revision Tips
For PEEL paragraphs, you must give a

 Point- Link to the question

 Example- Evidence to support this…
 Explanation- Explain what this means…
 Link- Link it back to the question/ in conclusion…

Harold Godwinson:

Harold Godwinson was an English nobleman who became King of England in 1066.

He faced multiple challenges, including invasions by rivals like William the Conqueror and Harald Hardrada.

Revision Questions:

 Who was Harold Godwinson, and how did he become the King of England in 1066?
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  What were some of the challenges that Harold Godwinson faced during his reign as King of England?

The Norman Conquest:

The Norman Conquest was a pivotal event in English history in 1066.

The Battle of Hastings in 1066 was a significant part of the Norman Conquest.

William the Conqueror claimed the English throne.

Revision Questions:

 What is the Norman Conquest, and why is it historically significant?

 Describe the Battle of Hastings.

William the Conqueror:

William the Conqueror, also known as William I, was the Duke of Normandy who became King of England. He
implemented changes in England, including the Domesday Book and the feudal system.

Sample Revision Questions:

 Who was William the Conqueror, and what changes did he bring to England after his victory?
 Explain the significance of the Domesday Book and its purpose.

The Domesday Book:

The Domesday Book was a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

It was created to assess land ownership, resources, and taxation.

Sample Revision Questions:

 What was the Domesday Book, and why was it created?

 What information did the Domesday Book aim to record, and what was its purpose?

Bayeux Tapestry:

The Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidered historical artifact that depicts the events of the Norman Conquest.

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It provides valuable visual information about the conquest and is considered an important historical document.

Sample Revision Questions:

 What is the Bayeux Tapestry, and why is it significant in understanding the events of the Norman Conquest?

Medieval Castles:

Medieval castles were fortified structures built for defence and as symbols of power.

They played a crucial role in the Norman rule of England.

Sample Revision Questions:

 Describe the construction and purpose of medieval castles during the Norman period in England.

History: Topic list Term 2

Topics Link to resources / revision

What Was Life Like in Medieval Village: Describe how a Teams PowerPoint and class notes
medieval villager spent their day and compare villagers
lives and homes with modern homes and life today.
What Was Life Like in a Medieval Town: Explain what life Teams PowerPoint and class notes
was like in a medieval town, how buying and selling was
organized and how towns grew.

Life in a Medieval Village

What Was Daily Life Like?

Most people were peasants. Reconstructed medieval village house

They worked long hours in the fields from sunrise to sunset.

Jobs included planting, harvesting, feeding animals, and collecting

firewood.

There was little time for fun — Sundays were rest days and church
days.

Medieval Homes

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Houses were made from wood, mud, and straw (wattle and daub).

Floors were dirt.

No bathrooms – people used buckets or went outside.

There was no electricity or running water.

Everyone slept in one room, often with animals.

Life in a Medieval Town

Living and Working in Towns

 People lived close together in crowded, narrow streets.

 Towns were dirty and noisy, with no running water or

proper toilets.

 Houses were made of wood, and fires were common.

 Life was busy — people worked as blacksmiths, bakers,

weavers, and more.

Buying and Selling in Medieval Towns

Markets were held in the town square.

 Traders sold bread, wool, leather, fish, and other goods.

 Goods were made by skilled workers in guilds –

 groups that trained and protected workers.

 Merchants made money by selling products from faraway places.

How Did Towns Grow?

 Towns grew near rivers and roads, where travel and trade were easy.

 Some towns got a charter (a rule/law) to govern themselves with a mayor and council.

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  More people moved in because of trade, safety (castles/churches), and work.

Town vs. Village Life

Life Aspect Medieval Town Medieval Village

Homes Close, tall wooden buildings Small huts made of mud and straw

Work Traders, craftsmen, merchants Farmers and laborers

Markets Weekly, big, lots of goods Small, local bartering

Smells & Dirt Very dirty and crowded Still dirty, but more open space

Freedom More freedom with town charters Tied to the land and lord

History: Topic list Term 3

Topics Link to resources / revision
The Magna Carta: Analyse the consequences of King Teams PowerPoint and class notes
Johns Mistake and explain the importance of the Magna
Carta.
The Peasant Revolt: Examine why peasants were so Teams PowerPoint and class notes
angry in 1381 and evaluate the causes of the peasants
anger making connections between them

The Magna Carta

Topic: What happened because of King John’s mistakes, and why is the Magna Carta important?

Who Was King John?

Image: King John of England

 Became king in 1199

 Lost wars, money, and land

 Angered the Church by arguing with the Pope

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  Raised taxes unfairly

 Upset barons, church, and common people

What Was the Magna Carta?

 Signed in 1215 after the barons rebelled

 A list of 63 rules the King had to follow

 Also called the Great Charter

 First time a king’s power was limited by law

Key Points in the Magna Carta

Clause What it Said

1️ No prison without a fair trial

2️ Taxes must be agreed by the barons

3️ King can't interfere with the Church

4️ A council of 25 barons checks the king

5️ Freemen can travel freely

Why Is the Magna Carta Important?

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First step towards democracy
Influenced the US Constitution
Gave the idea of fair trials and justice
Used during the English Civil War as a symbol of citizens’ rights
Still important today for legal rights!

Consequences of King John’s Mistakes

Mistake What Happened Next

Argued with the Pope Got excommunicated, banned church services

Raised unfair taxes Barons rebelled

Lost wars and land Became unpopular and weakened

Signed the Magna Carta Lost absolute power

Here’s a basic and brief revision guide on "The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381", based on your PowerPoint and designed
to be visual, simple, and student-friendly — great for KS3 learners.

The Peasants’ Revolt (1381)

Topic: Why were the peasants so angry, and how are the causes connected?

🧑‍🌾 Who Were the Peasants?

 Peasants were at the bottom of the feudal system.

 Most were farmers, working long hours.

 They paid heavy taxes and had very few rights.

 Some were villeins – not even free to leave their land.

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Why Were the Peasants Angry?

1. The Poll Tax

o Everyone paid the same tax, rich or poor.

o In 1380, it was 12 pence per adult — very high for

peasants.

o Many hid from tax collectors or refused to pay.

2. Low Wages

o Law said wages must stay the same as 30 years ago.

o Peasants couldn’t earn more, even after the Black

Death reduced the workforce.

3. Bad Leadership

o King Richard II was only 14 years old.

o His uncle John of Gaunt made decisions.

o Nobles were greedy and unfair.

4. Lack of Freedom

o Villeins couldn’t leave their lord’s land.

o Peasants wanted freedom and fairness.

How Are the Causes Connected?

Cause Link to Other Causes

Poll tax Made peasants poorer when wages were already too low

Low wages Led to anger because peasants worked harder but earned the same

Bad leadership Nobles made unfair rules and ignored peasants’ struggles

Lack of freedom Peasants wanted more control over their own lives

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All the causes made peasants feel ignored, overworked, and unfairly treated.

What Happened During the Revolt?

 Peasants marched to London.

 Leader: Wat Tyler

 Demands: End of serfdom, freedom, fair taxes

 Met the king – at first, he agreed, but later broke his promises

 Wat Tyler was killed, and the revolt failed

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