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5-14 Exemplar Assessment Items – The Vikings
Strands and levels to be assessed
Below are the strands/levels identified as relevant for Vikings
topic
E1
explain the motives or actions of people in particular historical
situations
explain the values or attitudes that characterised various
societies in the past
explain why particular societies, people and events from the
past are thought to be of significance
F1
apply knowledge and understanding of the motives or actions of
people in particular situations, and/or the values and attitudes
of particular societies in the past to reach conclusions on a given
historical issue or question.
E3
name and place significant historical periods in chronological
order
explain the relationship between specific dates and the relevant
century
N.B. For most of the strands, questions will be differentiated e.g.
E1 questions might have levels D, E and F questions depending
on availability of source materials.
1
Level E Strand 1:
Explain the motives or actions of people in particular situations.
There is no equivalent strand descriptor for level D, but the task for level E will
be simplified in order to enable teachers to use the task as an assessment item
at both level D and E. Some pupils may benefit from going straight to the level F
task using the level E sources.
The task for all three levels is to find out the main reasons why the Vikings
came to Scotland.
2
E1 - Explain the motives or actions of people in particular situations.
Level D
Study the following sources and then do the task which follows:
Source A
The land and the weather in Scandinavia were very poor for farming. The
Vikings could not grow enough food to feed their people. After 750AD the
population of Norway grew very quickly. They had to turn to raiding in the
summer to make a living. Scotland was the easiest, nearest country for them to
attack. (R. Dargie – Scotland in the Middle Ages p17)
1. Which two of the following statements best describes the evidence in
Source A? (2)
a. Vikings raided Scotland because the land and weather in Scotland
were very poor.
b. Vikings raided Scotland because the land and weather in Scandinavia
were very poor.
c. The nearest country by sea from Norway to raid was Scotland.
d. Norway’s population was falling so the Vikings brought slaves back
from Scotland.
Marking Scheme
Two correct answers are: b and c
3
E1 - Explain the motives or actions of people in particular situations.
Level D
2. Which two of the following statements best describes the evidence in
Source B? (2)
Source B
The First Vikings were outlaws who fled from Norway at a time when the
Norse kings were strong and were laying down the law. These outlaws came to
Scotland so that they could carry on making a living by theft, slaving, looting
and murder. There were many law-abiding Norse farmers and fishers who did
not go on raids. (R. Dargie – Scotland in the Middle Ages p17)
a. The first Vikings to invade Scotland were not farmers but fishers.
b. The first Vikings to invade Scotland were murderers and robbers.
c. Many Vikings who raided Scotland were fleeing from the law in Norway.
d. Many Vikings who raided Scotland were law-abiding and just wanted to
farm or fish.
Marking Scheme
Two correct answers are: b and c
4
E1 - Explain the motives or actions of people in particular situations.
Level D
3. Which two of the following statements best describes the evidence in
Source C? (2)
Source C
The Shetland Islands (in the north of Scotland) lie only about 180 miles from
the west coast of Norway, only two days sailing in the spring when the prevailing
winds favoured voyages to the west. The Scottish islands had landscapes not so
very different from the homeland and were not so far away that one need feel
homesick. (Anna Ritchie – Viking Scotland p10-11)
a. Vikings from Norway liked coming to the Shetland Islands because
they did not get seasick on the two-day journey.
b. The Scottish islands looked like the Shetland Islands and this made the
Vikings homesick.
c. The Scottish Islands like Shetland were only two days sailing from
Norway.
d. Shetland looked quite like Norway, so the Norwegian Vikings would not
feel so homesick.
Marking Scheme
Two correct answers are: c and d
5
E1 - Explain the motives or actions of people in particular situations.
Level E
N.B. In the following exercise, six sources have been provided. There are two
reasons for this: 1) to give pupils a full appreciation of the variety of possible
reasons why historians think the Vikings came to Scotland / Britain and 2) if
this is a class exercise embedded in a work booklet, the teacher may wish to do
some preliminary discussion on the possible reasons. However, if this
assessment item were taken out and used as part of a level E end-of-unit test,
then the level of demand may be too great for level E. In this case, the teacher
would need to select three or four of the sources and adjust the table
accordingly.
Study the following six sources and then do the task which follows:
Source A
The land and the weather in Scandinavia were very poor for farming. The
Vikings could not grow enough food to feed their people. After 750AD the
population of Norway grew very quickly. They had to turn to raiding in the
summer to make a living. Scotland was the easiest, nearest country for them to
attack. (R. Dargie – Scotland in the Middle Ages p17)
Source B
The First Vikings were outlaws who fled from Norway at a time when the Norse
kings were strong and were laying down the law. These outlaws came to Scotland
so that they could carry on making a living by theft, slaving, looting and murder.
There were many law-abiding Norse farmers and fishers who did not go on raids.
(R. Dargie – Scotland in the Middle Ages p17)
6
Source C
The Norse Vikings depended for much of their food on great shoals of cod and
herring which lived in the North Sea. Unfortunately these shoals migrated and
moved away from Norway towards Scotland. The first Vikings followed the fish
westwards, then realised they could easily attack unprotected churches and
villages in Scotland. (R. Dargie – Scotland in the Middle Ages p17)
Source D
The weather had been improving slowly for a century or two. This encouraged
inventive Norwegian boat-builders who by the eighth century had developed a
boat capable of ocean exploration. Calmer seas and sailing boats to skim the
waves created the right conditions for the Viking age. Scotland came early into
the story, for the Shetland Islands lie only about 180 nautical miles from the
west coast of Norway, a mere two days sailing in the spring when the prevailing
winds favoured voyages to the west. There was good land to be taken in the
Scottish islands, in landscapes not so very different from the homeland and not
so far away that one need feel homesick. (Anna Ritchie – Viking Scotland p10-11)
Source E
The Norsemen attacked Scotland in the 790s because that was when they
perfected their super-weapon, the longship. Earlier Norse ships could not have
got across the stormy North Sea. However, by the 790s the Vikings had
longships tough and fast enough to make summer raiding possible. (R. Dargie –
Scotland in the Middle Ages p18)
Source F
‘When the first boatloads of Viking settlers ...arrived in Orkney, they must have
thought they had landed in paradise. The well-drained light soils, and the mild
climate of cool summers and warm winters, would have made Orkney and north-
east Caithness especially attractive; but in Shetland, too, the Norsemen found a
home from home, where a maritime (sea-based) way of life was easy, and a living
could be made from a combination of farming, fishing and fowling.’ (Olwyn Owen
– The Sea Road p16)
7
Task:
Below is a table with a list of reasons why the Vikings came to Scotland. You
have to match up the reasons with the sources. If you think that Source A
mentions that the Vikings came to Scotland for its good farming land, write
down 1A i.e. point one matches the information in Source A.
N.B. Some points may be mentioned in more than one source. Some sources
may have more than one point. This question is worth 10 marks.
8
Point Reasons Which
Number Source(s)?
1 Norse fishermen followed the shoals of fish which
moved away from the coast of Norway towards
Scotland.
2 Norsemen who had broken the law fled to Scotland to
escape justice in their homeland.
3 Norwegian boat builders designed a ship which could
cope with long sea journeys.
4 The climate in the northern isles was mild, with no
harsh winters like in Norway.
5 Farming land in Norway was very poor
6 The Scottish northern isles were only two days sailing
away from Norway.
7 Scottish land was very good for farming.
8 The weather slowly improved. This led to calmer seas.
The journey from Norway to Scotland was not so
dangerous.
9 Norway’s population grew very rapidly until there was
not enough land for everyone to farm.
Marking Scheme
Correct answers are: 1C; 2B; 3D and E; 4F; 5A; 6A and D; 7D and F; 8D; 9A.
9
E1 - Explain the motives or actions of people in particular situations.
Level F
Study the following six sources. They give some of the reasons why the Vikings
left Norway, raided, traded and settled in Scotland. Your task is to:
* Write a short report entitled ‘Why the Vikings came to Scotland’.
* Use your own words.
* Put the reasons into a logical order under the following sub-headings:
- Reasons why they left Norway
- Better weather, calmer seas, better ships
- Attractions of coming to Scotland
* You may wish to list the reasons as bullet points.
* Evidence from all six sources should be present.
* This task will be marked out of 10.
Source A
The land and the weather in Scandinavia were very poor for farming. The
Vikings could not grow enough food to feed their people. After 750AD the
population of Norway grew very quickly. They had to turn to raiding in the
summer to make a living. Scotland was the easiest, nearest country for them
to attack. (R. Dargie – Scotland in the Middle Ages p17)
Source B
The First Vikings were outlaws who fled from Norway at a time when the
Norse kings were strong and were laying down the law. These outlaws came to
Scotland so that they could carry on making a living by theft, slaving, looting
and murder. There were many law-abiding Norse farmers and fishers who did
not go on raids. (R. Dargie – Scotland in the Middle Ages p17)
10
Source C
The Norse Vikings depended for much of their food on great shoals of cod
and herring which lived in the North Sea. Unfortunately these shoals
migrated and moved away from Norway towards Scotland. The first Vikings
followed the fish westwards, then realised they could easily attack
unprotected churches and villages in Scotland. (R. Dargie – Scotland in the
Middle Ages p17)
Source D
The weather had been improving slowly for a century or two. This encouraged
inventive Norwegian boat-builders who by the eighth century had developed a
boat capable of ocean exploration. Calmer seas and sailing boats to skim the
waves created the right conditions for the Viking age. Scotland came early
into the story, for the Shetland Islands lie only about 180 nautical miles from
the west coast of Norway, a mere two days sailing in the spring when the
prevailing winds favoured voyages to the west. There was good land to be
taken in the Scottish islands, in landscapes not so very different from the
homeland and not so far away that one need feel homesick. (Anna Ritchie –
Viking Scotland p10-11)
Source E
The Norsemen attacked Scotland in the 790s because that was when they
perfected their super-weapon, the longship. Earlier Norse ships could not
have got across the stormy North Sea. However, by the 790s the Vikings had
longships tough and fast enough to make summer raiding possible. (R. Dargie
– Scotland in the Middle Ages p18)
11
Source F
‘When the first boatloads of Viking settlers ...arrived in Orkney, they must
have thought they had landed in paradise. The well-drained light soils, and the
mild climate of cool summers and warm winters, would have made Orkney and
north-east Caithness especially attractive; but in Shetland, too, the
Norsemen found a home from home, where a maritime (sea-based) way of life
was easy, and a living could be made from a combination of farming, fishing
and fowling.’ (Olwyn Owen – The Sea Road p16)
Marking Scheme
There are nine points identified in the sources. There are ten marks available.
Teachers should use their professional judgement on granting an additional
mark for either a) evidence of own words used b) detailed answers.
Reasons why they left Norway
Norsemen who had broken the law fled to Scotland to escape justice in
their homeland.
Farming land in Norway was very poor
Norway’s population grew very rapidly until there was not enough land for
everyone to farm.
Better weather, calmer seas, better ships
Norse fishermen followed the shoals of fish which moved away from the
coast of Norway towards Scotland.
Norwegian boat builders designed a ship which could cope with long sea
journeys.
The weather slowly improved. This led to calmer seas. The journey from
Norway to Scotland was not so dangerous.
Attractions of coming to Scotland
The climate in the northern isles was mild, with no harsh winters like in
Norway.
The Scottish northern isles were only two days sailing away from Norway.
Scottish land was very good for farming.
12
E1 - Explain the motives or actions of people in particular situations.
Level E
Source A: From a modern history book (R. Dargie – Scotland in the Middle
Ages)
The land and the weather in Scandinavia were very poor for farming. The
Vikings could not grow enough food to feed their people. After 750AD the
population of Norway grew very quickly. Scotland was the easiest, nearest
country for them to attack.
Q: Why did the Vikings start raiding into Scotland? (4)
You should use the source and your own knowledge to answer this
question.
Marking Scheme:
Pupil explains why did the Vikings started raiding into Scotland using
information such as:
Points from Source A:
poor land and weather for farming in Scandinavia
not enough food to feed the growing people
Scotland was nearest, easiest country to raid
Points from recall:
Many Vikings who raided Scotland were fleeing from the law in Norway.
Shetland was only 180 miles from Norway, only two days sailing in the
spring
Shetland looked quite like Norway, so the Norwegian Vikings would not
feel so homesick.
The land was good on the Scottish islands and the weather was milder
By the 790s the Vikings had longships tough and fast enough to make
summer raiding to Scotland possible
Monasteries on coast were undefended and easy to raid
Monasteries like Iona were full of treasure
13
E1 - Explain the motives or actions of people in particular situations.
Level F
From the 790s, a steady stream of Viking raiding parties battered Scotland’s
islands and coastal communities.
Q: Why did the Vikings start raiding into Scotland from the 790s? (4)
Marking Scheme:
Pupil explains why did the Vikings started raiding into Scotland using evidence
such as:
Poor land and weather for farming in Scandinavia
Not enough food to feed the growing people
Scotland was nearest, easiest country to raid
Many Vikings who raided Scotland were fleeing from the law in Norway.
Shetland was only 180 miles from Norway, only two days sailing in the
spring
Shetland looked quite like Norway, so the Norwegian Vikings would not
feel so homesick.
The land was good on the Scottish islands and the weather was milder
By the 790s the Vikings had longships tough and fast enough to make
summer raiding to Scotland possible
Monasteries on coast were undefended and easy to raid
Monasteries like Iona were full of treasure
14
E1 - Explain the motives or actions of people in particular situations.
Level D
Source A: From a modern history book (R. Dargie – Scotland in the Middle
Ages)
The land and the weather in Scandinavia were very poor for farming. The
Vikings could not grow enough food to feed their people. After 750AD the
population of Norway grew very quickly. Scotland was the easiest, nearest
country for them to attack.
Q: Why did the Vikings raid into foreign countries like Scotland? Give three
reasons. (2)
Reason 1___________________________________________________
Reason 2___________________________________________________
Reason 3___________________________________________________
Marking Scheme:
Pupil explains why did the Vikings raided into countries like Scotland using
evidence from Source A:
poor land and weather for farming in Scandinavia
not enough food to feed the growing people
Scotland was nearest, easiest country to raid
15
E1 - Explain why particular societies, people and events from the past are
thought to be of significance
Level D
Source A gives information on the reasons why the Viking Age ended.
It is adapted from a modern history book (Pamela Odijk – The Vikings)
Source A
Then three main Viking countries (Norway, Sweden and Denmark) were not
organised into one fighting force. In fact, they often fought with themselves.
This made it possible for other countries to defeat them. Also those other
countries had learnt how to build ships that were as good as the Vikings’ and
they could defeat the Vikings at sea. Many Vikings changed their religion to
Christianity. Christianity was against some of the old Viking ways like slave
trading. By the late 11th century, the Viking Age was over.
Q. Explain why the Viking Age ended. Give three reasons. (3)
Reasons 1____________________________________________________
Reasons 2____________________________________________________
Reasons 3____________________________________________________
Marking Scheme:
Pupil explains why the Viking age ended using evidence from Source A:
The three Viking countries fought among themselves
Other countries learned how to build ships as good as the Viking longships.
They could now defeat the Vikings at sea.
Vikings had always traded in slaves. Many now changed their religion to
Christianity, which was against having slaves.
16
E1 - Explain why particular societies, people and events from the past are
thought to be of significance
Level E
Source A gives information on the reasons why the Viking Age ended at the end
of the 11th century. It is adapted from a modern history book (Pamela Odijk –
The Vikings)
The weak states the Vikings had easily conquered three centuries earlier had
become more prepared. They had raised powerful armies to resist invaders
and to drive the Vikings out. The Vikings came into contact with Christians
who had made their way to the Scandinavian lands. Christianity by its
constant preaching, especially against the slave trade and other aspects of
the Viking culture, gradually undermined this culture. The Vikings who went
out to establish colonies elsewhere adapted to their new environment, often
inter-marrying with the people of those lands and adopting their ways.
Q. Explain why the Viking Age had come to an end by the late 11th century.
(4)
You should use the source and your own knowledge.
Marking Scheme:
Pupil explains why the Viking Age had come to an end by the late 11th century
using evidence such as:
Points from Source A:
countries the Vikings had defeated in the past were now stronger
Vikings were losing their separate culture when they adopted Christianity
Vikings living in new lands adopted the ways of the people of these lands.
Points from recall:
Vikings were not a united people – they often fought with themselves.
This made it easier to their enemies to defeat the Vikings.
Other peoples learned how to build ships as good as the Viking longships.
They could now defeat the Vikings at sea.
Vikings had always taken slaves. Now Christianity taught against having
slaves.
17
E1 - Explain the values or attitudes that characterised various societies in
the past
Level E
Source A gives information about the duties of Viking women in the household.
Helga and Gird (her daughter) work hard at home all year round. Hard work
has made Helga strong. Like many of the Scandinavian women she is tough,
sharp-tongued and strong-willed. She has to be, while Sven (her husband) is
at sea she has to keep the servants in order and protect the farm from
thieves and wild animals.
Q: How important were Viking women to the running of the household? (4)
You should use the source and your own knowledge to answer this
question.
Marking Scheme:
Pupil explains the importance of women to the household by using evidence
such as:
From Source A:
Work hard all year round
Has to keep servants in order
Has to protect the farm from thieves and wild animals
From recall
Her main task is to make food for the family.
She also makes clothes.
18
E1 - Explain the values or attitudes that characterised various societies in
the past
Level D
Q. What beliefs did the Vikings have which led them to bury grave goods
with the dead or burn the bodies of the dead? Give two pieces of
evidence.
The Vikings believed that people's spirits went on living after their bodies
were dead. So they provided their dead friends with everything they might
need in the next world e.g. a warrior was buried with his sword and shield.
Great Viking leaders might be burned after they died. The Vikings believed
that this helped their spirits to escape from their bodies quickly and easily.
1. The Vikings buried personal belongings of the dead because...
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________.
2. The Vikings burned the bodies of the dead because...
________________________________________________________ (2)
Marking scheme
1. The Vikings buried personal belongings of the dead because they believed
that people's spirits went on living after death. So they provided the
dead with everything they needed in the next world.
2. The Vikings burned the bodies of the dead because they believed that
this helped their spirits to escape from their bodies quickly and easily.
19
E1 - Explain the values or attitudes that characterised various societies in
the past
Level E
Source A
The Vikings believed that people's spirits went on living after their bodies
were dead. So they provided their dead friends with everything they might
need in the next world e.g. a warrior was buried with his sword and shield.
Great Viking leaders might be burned after they died. The Vikings believed
that this helped their spirits to escape from their bodies quickly and easily.
Towards the end of the Viking age, many people became Christians and the
old funeral customs were forgotten.
Q. Explain how Viking beliefs about death and burial changed during the
Viking age. You should use evidence from the source. (3)
Marking Scheme
belief that spirit of dead lived on; possessions of dead should therefore be
buried with them to help them in the afterlife.
belief that by burning the dead body, the spirit would be able to escape
the body more quickly /easily
belief changed with coming of Christianity; no goods buried with dead.
20
E1 - Explain the values or attitudes that characterised various societies in
the past
Level F
The way Vikings buried their dead reflected their beliefs about death and
the afterlife.
Q. Explain Viking beliefs about death and how that influenced the way they
buried their dead. (4)
You should write several sentences and mention four points.
Marking Scheme
belief that spirit of dead lived on; possessions of dead should therefore be
buried with them to help them in the afterlife.
belief that by burning the dead body, the spirit would be able to escape
the body more quickly /easily.
Vikings often buried their dead in a boat; they would need the boat for
their journey to Valhalla.
Vikings believed in gods such as Thor; miniature models of Thor and other
gods often buried with the dead.
belief changed with coming of Christianity; no goods buried with dead.
21
Level F Strand 1
Apply knowledge and understanding of the motives or actions of people in
particular situations, and/or the values and attitudes of particular societies
in the past to reach conclusions on a given historical issue or question
The historical issue is:
Life was hard for women in Viking society.
Source A
Viking women had no political rights. They could not speak at the Assembly. Yet
they had more independence than many European women of their day. They
could choose their own husband, own property and be granted a divorce. At a
wedding, both the bride and groom had to make their marriage vows before
witnesses. Memorial stones show that many husbands loved their wives and
treated them with respect.
Source B
Women certainly needed to be tough. It was their job to make woollen or linen
clothes for the family, to prepare and cook food and to clean the home. It was
the women who usually had to manage the farm and its workers while their men
were off raiding or trading. They never knew if their husbands, brothers and
sons would return from the wars in the British Isles or be lost in a storm at sea.
Source C
Women were expected to do all the household chores. Women’s work lasted
from dawn till nightfall, with clothes to darn, poultry to look after, meals to
cook and children to scold! Most women also spent several hours a day spinning
and weaving wool into cloth to make clothes.
22
Q1. What evidence is there in the sources that life was hard for women in
Viking society?
What evidence is there is the sources that life was not so hard for
women in Viking society? (6)
Write your answers for these questions:
in note form
explain in your own words
for each point, identify which source you are describing
Marking Scheme
Evidence that life was hard for women:
Source A
had no political rights
Source B
had to make woollen or linen clothes for the family,
had to prepare and cook food and
had to clean the home
had to manage the farm and its workers while their men were off
raiding or trading
Source C
had to do all the household chores
women’s work lasted from dawn till nightfall
most women also spent several hours a day spinning and weaving wool
23
Evidence that life was not so hard for women:
Source A
had more independence than many European women of their day
could choose their own husband
could choose their own property
could be granted a divorce
marriage vows were made before witnesses, so both the man and the
women were expected to keep them
many husbands loved their wives and treated them with respect.
Source B
no evidence
Source C
no evidence
24
Level F Strand 1
Apply knowledge and understanding of the motives or actions of people in
particular situations, and/or the values and attitudes of particular societies
in the past to reach conclusions on a given historical issue or question
The historical issue is:
Life was hard for women in Viking society.
Q2. How far do you agree that women’s lives were hard in Viking society? (6)
To answer this question, you should select information from Sources A, B
and C as well as using your own knowledge. Remember to come to a
conclusion (answer the question).
Marking Scheme
Points from the Sources
had no political rights
had to make woollen or linen clothes for the family,
had to prepare and cook food and
had to clean the home
had to manage the farm and its workers while their men were off
raiding or trading
had to do all the household chores
women’s work lasted from dawn till nightfall
most women also spent several hours a day spinning and weaving wool
BUT
had more independence than many European women of their day
could choose their own husband
could choose their own property
could be granted a divorce
25
marriage vows were made before witnesses, so both the man and the
women were expected to keep them
many husbands loved their wives and treated them with respect.
and points from recall
wealthy women had slaves to do much of the housework
life was hard for women and men – women were no worse off than men
women kept their own property after marriage
26
Level F Strand 1
Apply knowledge and understanding of the motives or actions of people in
particular situations, and/or the values and attitudes of particular societies
in the past to reach conclusions on a given historical issue or question
The historical issue is:
The Vikings do not deserve the bad reputation they have gained.
Source A
When the Vikings came to Britain, they did not record their own version of
events. What we know about the early Viking raids comes from the monks –
the few people who could write. The monks wrote a biased account of events
because they suffered badly at the hands of the Viking invaders. Many monks
were killed, the treasures of the church were taken away, the monasteries
were vandalised and their way of life was destroyed. The monks were
prejudiced because they were Christians and the Vikings were pagans. The
monks did not understand the Viking invaders because they spoke a different
language.
Source B
Never before has such terror appeared in Britain as we have suffered from a
pagan race...
(Written by the monk Alcuin of York in AD 793)
27
Source C
The first Viking invaders could be very violent. Christian writers called the
invaders names like ‘the hateful plague of Europe’. They were writing in the
very places – monasteries and churches – that the Vikings raided.
Source D
In the last few years the image of the Vikings has changed a lot. Instead of
seeing them as destroyers, historians now emphasize their role as craftsmen,
explorers and traders...A view which has also become common is that the
numbers of Viking armies were not great, a few hundred at the most.
Q1. What evidence in the sources shows that the Vikings were a good people?
What evidence in the sources shows that the Vikings were a bad people?
(4)
Write your answers for these questions:
in note form
explain in your own words
for each point, identify which source you are describing
Marking Scheme:
Evidence that the Vikings were good
Vikings were portrayed as bad people (mistakenly) because the monks who
wrote the history books did not like them (foreigners, pagans) (A)
Vikings were craftsmen, traders and explorers (D)
Viking invading armies were quite small (D)
Evidence that the Vikings were bad
According to the monks, the Vikings were killers, robbers and vandals. (A)
Vikings caused terror wherever they went (B)
Viking invaders could be very violent (C)
28
Q2. Do the Vikings deserve the bad reputation they have gained? (6)
To answer this question, you should select information from the sources
as well as using your own knowledge. Remember to come to a
conclusion (answer the question).
Marking Scheme:
Mark the report based on:
quality and quantity of evidence given
clarity of argument
evidence of both good and bad points about Vikings
evidence from all four sources used
use of own words
conclusion based on evidence given
29
Level E Strand 3:
explain the relationship between specific dates and the relevant century
name and place significant historical periods in chronological order
Task 1
Pupils are given two sources – the first is a timeline of the Vikings in Britain;
the second is a text with dates about the Vikings in Scotland. Pupils need to use
both sources to answer a series of questions on chronology.
Study the two sources (A and B) and answer the questions which follow:
Source A
Vikings in Britain Timeline
AD 793 Viking raid on the island monastery of Lindisfarne
795 First raids on Scotland and Ireland
c. 800 Vikings settle on Shetland and Orkney
c. 840 Vikings found Dublin, in Ireland
865 Great Viking Army from Denmark invades England
867 Danes capture York
878 King Alfred of Wessex makes a treaty with the Vikings who settle
in the area of England later called the Danelaw
901-937 English reconquer most of the Danelaw
980 New Viking raids on England
30
c. 1014 King Svein Fork Beard of Denmark conquers England but dies soon
after
1016-1035 Svein's son Knut rules England
1066 King Harald Hard Ruler of Norway invades England but is killed in
battle.
Normans conquer England
(Timeline from Peter Chrisp - On the Trail of the Vikings in Britain p31)
Source B
Vikings in Britain Timeline
The earliest recorded Viking activity in Scotland was an attack on the
monastery on Iona in 795. Over the next 50 years raids continued around the
western coasts. By the mid-9th century, however, the emphasis had shifted
from raiding to settlement. Very little is known about the settlement process,
but the first settlements probably began as raiding bases early in the century.
By 900, settlers - mostly Norwegians - were well established in the islands and
along the coast from Galloway to the Moray Firth. Many of the settlers adopted
Christianity before 900. Towards the end of the 9th century, the Norwegian
kings extended their authority over Orkney, establishing an earldom under loose
royal control. The Orkney earldom soon expanded, taking control of most of the
Scandinavian settled areas of Scotland by the reign of Earl Sigurd the Stout
(c. 985- 1014).
(Extract from John Haywood – Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings p76)
When you see c. before a date, it is short for ‘circa’, a Latin word meaning
‘around about’. Historians do this because they are not sure of the exact date.
Q1. Between which two centuries did the Vikings raid and ruler over parts of
Britain? (2)
Q2. How many years passed between the Viking raids on Lindisfarne and Iona?
(1)
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Q3. Write down three events from the sources which happened c. AD900.
(3)
Q4. Name two important Vikings who died c. 1014. (2)
Q5. Make your own timeline taking out events from both sources to make a
new one called ‘Vikings in Scotland Timeline’. You should aim to have five
dates and events in your timeline. (5)
Marking Scheme
Q1. 8th century – 11th century
Q2. 2 years
Q3. i. English reconquer most of the Danelaw (901-937)
ii. Norwegians settlers were well established in the islands of
Scotland and along the coast from Galloway to the Moray Firth
(by 900)
iii. Norwegian kings extended their authority over Orkney,
establishing an earldom under loose royal control (end of 9th
century)
Q4. King Svein Fork Beard of Denmark and Earl Sigurd the Stout
Q5. Full marks can be obtained for:
timeline with dates/events from both sources
dates /events relate to Scotland only
dates are in chronological order
there are 5 dates/events.
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Level E Strand 3:
explain the relationship between specific dates and the relevant century
name and place significant historical periods in chronological order
Task 2
The pictures below (Sources A-D) come from different periods in history:
10,000 BC. 3rd century AD 10th century AD 19th century AD
Match the pictures to the correct century e.g. Source A = 19th century. Give a
reason for each choice. (8)
Source A
Source B
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Source C
Source D
Marking Scheme
Source A = 10th century AD
Reason = shows Vikings; Vikings were around 8th-11th centuries AD
Source B = 3rd century AD
Reason = shows Romans; Romans were around 1st -3rd centuries AD
Source C = 10,000 BC
Reason = shows New Stone Age community; clothes made of animal skins;
hunted mammoths; no evidence of the use of metal.
Source D = 19th century
Reason = shows children working in factories; banned in 19th century /
shows early factories from 19th century
34
KU Level D
Study the information in Source A. You may also use your own knowledge to
answer the question.
Source A gives information on the reasons why the Viking Age ended.
Source A
Then three main Viking countries (Norway, Sweden and Denmark) were not
organised into one fighting force. In fact, they often fought with themselves.
This made it possible for other countries to defeat them. Also those other
countries had learnt how to build ships that were as good as the Vikings’ and
they could defeat the Vikings at sea. Many Vikings changed their religion to
Christianity. Christianity was against some of the old Viking ways like slave
trading. By the late 11th century, the Viking Age was over.
(Source adapted from Pamela Odijk – The Vikings)
1. Explain why the Viking Age ended. Give three reasons. (3)
Marking Scheme
Vikings never united as a fighting force
Viking soften fought among themselves
Other countries learned how to make ships as effective as the longship to
fight the Vikings at sea
Vikings changed their religion to Christianity. Christianity was against some
of the old Viking ways e.g. slave trading.
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Enquiry Skills Level E strand 2
...use suitable methods ..to ..record a range of relevant information from a
variety of different types of sources.
Task: You have been asked to do research for an investigation of the Vikings.
You have to take notes from the sources under the following three
headings. Copy out the table. Enter the evidence from the sources in note
form i.e. not full sentences (10)
Raiders Traders Explorers
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
Source A
The Vikings’ ship-building skills made it possible for them to go on long journeys.
Vikings from Norway travelled across the Atlantic Ocean to Iceland, Greenland
and North America. Danish Vikings settled in France and England.
Source B
The 790s were the start of the period in which the Vikings spread terror
around Western Europe. They began by attacking easy targets, such as villages,
monasteries, or other ships. Soon the Vikings were attacking the largest and
richest cities in Europe. In 846 they attacked Paris. King Charles the Bald of
France had to pay the Viking leader Ragnar Hairy-Breeks over three tonnes of
silver to leave.
36
Source C
The Vikings were second to none as successful merchants. Viking warehouses
were crammed with casks of wine from Germany and bales of woollen cloth from
England. Silk, jewellery and spices were brought by camel from the Far East. In
Baghdad’s markets, Vikings bought these things in return for furs, beeswax and
slaves.
Source D
Source: Philip Steele – Step into the Viking World
Source E
At the beginning of the summer of 986, Eirik the Red left Iceland with 25 ships
full of men, women and children carrying with them everything they possessed.
The country’s charms so impressed Eirik that he named it the ‘green land’.
However...Greenland lay almost entirely within the Arctic Circle.
Source: The Vikings: Lords of the Seas – Yves Cohat
Source F
The invasions of the Norwegian Vikings increased daily in violence. They relied
greatly on the element of surprise. A few ships would appear on the horizon and
approach the shore, then a small band of men would pour on to the beach and
37
launch an attack on the monastery. The defenders were beaten back, houses and
religious buildings robbed, treasures seized and the buildings set on fire.
Source: The Vikings: Lords of the Seas – Yves Cohat
Marking Scheme
Base judgement on template below. Also on depth and accuracy of detail and
answers written in pupil’s own words.
Raiders Traders Explorers
Good ship-builders – Good ship-builders – Good ship-builders –
could go on long journeys could go on long journeys. could go on long journeys.
(A) (A) (A)
Began raids around Very successful Went to Iceland,
Western Europe in 790s. merchants. e.g. Viking Greenland, North
(B) warehouses had wine America, France and
from Germany; woollen England. (A)
cloth from England; silk,
jewellery and spices
from the Far East. (C)
At first, attacked easy Vikings traded furs, In 986, Eirik the Red
targets, such as villages, beeswax and slaves for left Iceland and sailed to
monasteries. Later wine, cloth and spices. (C) Greenland. (E)
attacked richest cities in
Europe e.g. Paris. (B)
Viking raids were violent. Traded in slaves; also
Relied on surprise. traded jewellery, amber,
Attacks often on honey, silk, pottery. (D)
monasteries. Houses and
religious buildings were
robbed, treasures seized
and the buildings set on
fire. (F)
38
Enquiry Skills Level E strand 3
Present findings in a report...showing clear organisation and appropriate
specialist language.
Once you have completed the table above, write a report entitled The Vikings –
Raiders, Traders and Explorers. You should write in full sentences, write in
your own words and have a paragraph on each of the topics. (12)
Marking scheme
Base judgement on:
Depth and accuracy of detail
Answer written in pupil’s own words
Answer organised into appropriate paragraphs
Appropriate specialist language used
Clarity.
39
ES Level D
Study Sources A and B, then answer the question which follows.
Source A
During the Viking age, farmers were able to grow plenty of food. There was
little risk of starvation and families began to get bigger. Eventually the
Vikings had to look for new land to grow food on. So, not only did the Vikings
raid and plunder, they also settled on new land to farm it for themselves. (J
and L James - The Vikings p15)
Source B
The land and the weather in Scandinavia were very poor for farming. The
Vikings could not grow enough food to feed their people. After 750AD the
population of Norway grew very quickly. They had to turn to raiding in the
summer to make a living. (R. Dargie – Scotland in the Middle Ages p17)
1. Sources A and B do not agree about how good Viking farming was. In your
own words, write down the main point that they disagree about. (2)
2. Sources A and B agree about why the Vikings started raiding. Write down
the reason. (1)
Marking scheme
1. Sources A says farmers were able to grow plenty of food whereas Source
B says Vikings could not grow enough food to feed their people.
2. Both agree that the Vikings started raiding because the population grew.
40
Enquiry Skills Level E
Source A
During the Viking age, farmers were able to grow plenty of food. There was
little risk of starvation and families began to get bigger. Eventually the
Vikings had to look for new land to grow food on. So, not only did the Vikings
raid and plunder, they also settled on new land to farm it for themselves. (J
and L James p15)
Source B
The land and the weather in Scandinavia were very poor for farming. The
Vikings could not grow enough food to feed their people. After 750AD the
population of Norway grew very quickly. They had to turn to raiding in the
summer to make a living. Scotland was the easiest, nearest country for them
to attack. (R. Dargie – Scotland in the Middle Ages p17)
1. Compare the information in Sources A and B. The authors disagree
about one point and agree on two other points. Use the following
writing frame to fill out your answer.
‘Sources A and B disagree about________________. Whereas Source A says
____________, Source B says_____________. However, both sources agree
that the population was___________. Source A says
____________________and Source B says___________________ Sources
A and B also agree about the reason why the Vikings started raiding. Source A
says______________________and Source B says
______________________.’ (5)
41
Marking scheme
Sources A and B disagree about how efficient farming was. Whereas Source A
says farmers were able to grow plenty of food, Source B says Vikings could
not grow enough food to feed their people. However, both sources agree that
the population was increasing. Source A says families began to get bigger and
Source B says the population of Norway grew very quickly. Sources A and B
also agree about the reason why the Vikings started raiding. Source A says the
Vikings had to look for new land to grow food on and Source B says they had
to turn to raiding in the summer to make a living.
42
Level E
Historians sometimes differ in their opinions as to what happened in the
past, why it happened and even when it happened. Read the following
sources and answer the questions which follow:
Source A
The Vikings were first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in AD 789 when
they landed in the south coast of England.
Source B
‘The first western raid to be well documented took place on the Northumbrian
island monastery of Lindisfarne in AD793.’
Source C
In 1066, Edward the Confessor died without an heir. Harold Godwinson was
crowned king of England. Harald Hardradi invaded northern England but was
defeated and killed at the battle of Stamford Bridge. Duke William of
Normandy invaded southern England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the
Battle of Hastings. Duke William became King William I of England. The Viking
raids finished. By 1100 the Viking Age had ended.
Source D
In Scandinavia, the tradition is to place the close of the Viking period at about
1050 on the basis of the end of the Viking involvement with England.
Q1. When did the Vikings first started raiding Britain? Refer to Sources A
and B. (2)
Q2. When did the Vikings stop raiding Britain? Refer to Sources C and D. (2)
43
Marking scheme
1. The Vikings first started raiding Britain in AD 789 (Source A) or AD793
(Source B).
2. The Vikings stopped raiding Britain in AD 1066 (Source C) or AD1050
(Source D).
44
Level D
Read the following sources on the Viking raids and answer the questions which
follow.
Source A
In AD 793 heavily armed Vikings attacked a Christian monastery at Lindisfarne.
The monks tried to hide their precious crosses, their silver cups and Bibles. The
Vikings axed them down, set fire to the buildings and sailed away with their
loot.
Source B
The Lindisfarne raid had been very easy for the Vikings. The monastery was
right next to the sea. It was full of treasure and yet the monks made no effort
to defend it. They were holy men and they did not own weapons. It is hardly
surprising that the Vikings returned again and again to raid monasteries on the
British shoreline.
1. Were the Vikings who raided Lindisfarne Christians? Give a reason for
your answer. (Source A) KU (2)
2. Source A says the Vikings were heavily armed. Name one weapon the
Vikings had on the raid. (Source A) KU (1)
3. The monks had lots of treasure. What did they do with their gold and
silver goods when they saw the Vikings coming? (Source A) KU (1)
4. Why did the monks not fight the Vikings? (Source B) KU (2)
5. Give two reasons why the Vikings found the raid on Lindisfarne easy.
(Source B) KU (2)
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Marking scheme
1. No – raided Christian monastery and set fire to it.
2. Axe
3. Tried to hide them
4. They were holy men and they did not own weapons.
5. The monastery was right next to the sea. The monks made no effort to
defend it.
46
Level E
Read the following sources on the Viking raids and answer the questions which
follow.
Source A
In AD 793 a band of heavily armed Vikings ran their longships ashore on
Lindisfarne (an island off the coast of Northumbria, in England). This was the
site of a Christian monastery. The monks tried in vain to hide their precious
crosses, their silver chalices (cups) and Bibles. The Vikings axed them down, set
fire to the buildings and sailed away with their loot.
Source B
‘(The Vikings) laid everything to waste with grievous plundering, trampled the
holy places with dirty feet, dug up the altars and seized all the treasures of the
holy church. They killed some of the brothers. Some they took away with them
in chains. Many they drove out, naked and loaded with insults, and some they
drowned in the sea.’
1. One of the sources (A or B) was written in the 20th century by a modern
historian (secondary source) and the other was written by a monk around
about the time of the Viking raids (primary source). Can you work out
which is which? Give reasons for your answer. ES(3)
2. Which source (A or B) gives a better description of where and when the
raids took place? Give evidence to back up your answer. ES(3)
3. What evidence is there in the sources that the Vikings used violence
against the monks? Use both sources in your answer. ES (3)
4. Name four items of loot the Vikings sailed away with. Use evidence from
both sources. KU (4)
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Marking scheme
1. Source A = secondary
Source B = primary
Reason = Source A gives the date; unlikely someone writing at
the time would mention the year or
Source A also explains where Lindifarne was and what
a chalice was; a monk at the time would assume his
readers would all know this or
Source B is more hostile towards the Vikings e.g. using
words like ‘grievous’ plundering, trampled the holy
places with ‘dirty’ feet
2. Source A = ‘AD 793’ and ‘Lindisfarne (an island off the coast of
Northumbria, in England’
3. Source A
axed them down
set fire to the buildings
Source B
laid everything to waste with grievous plundering
trampled the holy places with dirty feet
dug up the altars
seized all the treasures of the holy church
killed some of the brothers
took away with them in chains
drowned in the sea.
4. Source A = crosses; chalices; Bibles.
Source B = monks as slaves.
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