Midages

4. The Plague
Download this document [|Bubonic Plague task in a Word Doc.doc] and follow the instructions. You will need your Medieval booklet and your computer to complete this task.

3. The Magna Carta
Click here for the Magna Carta activities.

2. The Domesday book
There are some online activities for you to do: Click here.

1. Create your own Bayeux Tapestry
Watch a video about the Battle of Hastings: Battle of Hastings + Bayeux tapestry To create a detail of the Bayeux Tapestry from the SAXON point of view.
 * Task aim:**


 * You need:**
 * Your computer
 * The "Stand up the true king of England" handout.
 * Your Medieval Booklet, go to page 126, 7.6 "The Normans" page + the Battle of Hastings
 * The online text at the bottom of this page (Scroll all the way down to "The events of 1066")


 * How to complete this task:**
 * 1) (Re)Read all three texts mentioned above.
 * 2) Pick one episode / event from any time in 1066 which you find interesting or which you think would be interesting to depict.
 * 3) Download this Word file, read it carefully and then and save it in your Humanities folder: [|The SAXON Bayeux Tapestry_yourname.do]c
 * 4) You are going to create Bayeux tapestry panels / scenes yourself. You will take a screenshot (see Word Doc) and you'll paste your screen shots in the Word document.

This is the Bayeux Tapestry creator: @http://www.adgame-wonderland.de/type/bayeux.php (Works in Internet Explorer only.) Follow the instructions on the website. Recreate a historical event from the SAXON point of view - as best as you can. How would they have retold the event? How would they have depicted the Normans?


 * You can create as many panels as you like.
 * Provide a plain English text explanation for each panel in your Word document.
 * Look at the "Stand up the true king of England" handout as a guide to what your tapestry panel should look like.

**You can even try to write in Latin:** Below are three examples created with an online translator. The sentences are almost definitely gobbledigook, so make sure you provide an English translation for the Latin text.

Keep your sentences short and simple, use only simple words that the online translator knows. Click here for the online translators. Create your tapestry scene in the game. When you are finished, press the following two keys: "fn" (Next to the CTRL key) "prt sc" / Insert (Above the backspace key)
 * Haroldus est vox rex rgis (Harold is the rightful king)
 * Willelm sit a proditor (William is a traitor)
 * Militis erant valde fortis (The soldier were brave)
 * Taking a screen shot.**

Now go into Word Go to FILE > PASTE and paste the screen shot You will have to CROP the image so that you only see the panel you've created.



The events of 1066
King Edward of England (called "The Confessor" because of his construction of Westminster Abbey) died on January 5, 1066, after a reign of 23 years. Leaving no heirs, Edward's death started a three-way rivalry for the crown that ended in the Battle of Hastings and the destruction of the Anglo-Saxon rule of England.

The leading pretender to the throne was Harold Godwinson, the second most powerful man in England and an advisor to Edward. Harold and Edward became brothers-in-law when the king married Edith, Harold's sister. Harold's powerful position, his relationship to Edward and his good reputation among his peers made him a logical successor to the throne. His claim was strengthened when the dying Edward supposedly uttered "Into Harold's hands I commit my Kingdom." With this royal approval, the Witan (the council of royal advisors) unanimously selected Harold as King. His coronation took place the same day as Edward's burial. ("The king is dead, long live the king") With the placing of the crown on his head, Harold's troubles began.

Across the English Channel, William, Duke of Normandy, also thought he had a right to the English throne. William justified his claim through his blood relationship with Edward (they were very distant cousins) and by stating that some years earlier, Harold had promised that William could become king of England. To make matters more complicated, William said that the message in which Edward appointed him as the next King of England had been carried to him in 1064 by none other than Harold himself. In addition, (according to William) Harold had sworn on the relics of a martyred saint that he would support William's right to the throne. From William's perspective, when Harold took the Crown, he not only defied the wishes of Edward but had violated a sacred oath to God. He immediately prepared to invade England and destroy the upstart Harold. Harold's violation of his sacred oath enabled William to secure the support of the Pope who promptly excommunicated Harold, sending him and his supporters to an eternity in Hell.

The third rival for the throne was Harald Hardraada, King of Norway. His justification was even more vague than William's. Hardrada ruled Norway jointly with his nephew Mangus until 1047 when Mangus conveniently died. Earlier (1042), Mangus had cut a deal with Harthacut the Danish ruler of England. Since neither ruler had a male heir, both promised their kingdom to the other in the event of his death. Harthacut died but Mangus was unable to follow up on his claim to the English throne because he was too busy battling for the rule of Denmark. Edward became the Anglo-Saxon ruler of England. Now with Mangus and Edward dead, Hardrada asserted that he, as Mangus's heir, was the rightful ruler of England. When he heard of Harold's coronation, Hardrada immediately prepared to invade England and crush the upstart.

Hardrada of Norway attacked first. In mid September, Hardrada's invasion force landed on the Northern English coast, sacked a few coastal villages and headed towards the city of York. Hardrada was joined in his effort by Tostig, King Harold's nere-do-well brother. The Viking army overwhelmed an English force blocking the York road and captured the city. In London, news of the invasion sent King Harold hurriedly north at the head of his army picking up reinforcements along the way. The speed of Harold's forced march allowed him to surprise Hardrada's army on September 25, as it camped at Stamford Bridge outside York. A fierce battle followed. Hand to hand combat ebbed and flowed across the bridge. Finally the Norsemen's line broke and the real slaughter began. Hardrada fell and then the King's brother, Tostig. What remained of the Viking army fled to their ships. So devastating was the Viking defeat that only 24 of the invasion force's original 240 ships made the trip back home. Resting after his victory, Harold received word of William's landing near Hastings.

Construction of the Norman invasion fleet had been completed in July and all was ready for the Channel crossing. Unfortunately, William's ships could not penetrate an uncooperative north wind and for six weeks he languished on the Norman shore. Finally, on September 27, after parading the relics of St. Valery at the water's edge, the winds shifted to the south and the fleet set sail. The Normans made landfall on the English coast near Pevensey and marched to Hastings.

Harold rushed his army south and planted his battle standards atop a knoll some five miles from Hastings. During the early morning of the next day, October 14, Harold's army watched as a long column of Norman warriors marched to the base of the hill and formed a battle line. Separated by a few hundred yards, the lines of the two armies traded taunts and insults. At a signal, the Norman archers took their position at the front of the line. The English at the top of the hill responded by raising their shields above their heads forming a shield-wall to protect them from the rain of arrows. The battle was joined.

The English fought defensively while the Normans infantry and cavalry repeatedly charged their shield-wall. As the combat slogged on for the better part of the day, the battle's outcome was in question. Finally, as evening approached, the English line gave way and the Normans rushed their enemy with a vengeance. King Harold fell as did the majority of the Saxon aristocracy. William's victory was complete. On Christmas day 1066, William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey.

Once you are finished, you can play this game (provided they are not blocked).

[|http://www.activehistory.co.uk] You'll need a username and pw for this game, It will be given to you in class.