OCR · GCSE · History

    Course version: J410 · Version from Mar 2026

    Jews in England: their first arrival in 1066 and their treatment and…

    Full specification wording

    Migration to Britain c.1000 to c.2010 (J410/08) - c.1000–1500: Jews in England: their first arrival in 1066 and their treatment and experiences until their expulsion in 1290. Immigrants in England during the Middle Ages: the lives and impact of resident ‘aliens’; their treatment by the authorities and the population generally; the extent to which they integrated.

    This topic covers two linked groups within the period c.1000–1500.

    Checked against the OCR J410 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 2 of 2
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    This topic covers two linked groups within the period c.1000–1500. For Jews in England, you need the first arrival in 1066, associated with William I's invitation of settlers after the Norman Conquest, and then their treatment and experiences until Edward I's expulsion in 1290. Expect questions on why Jewish communities were valued (lending money, royal protection and taxation) and why hostility grew (religious prejudice, debt resentment, accusations and violence, including the 1190 York massacre). For medieval 'aliens', you need their lives and impact, how authorities and the general population treated them, and how far they integrated. Distinguish crown policy from popular attitudes, and support judgements with specific examples rather than general statements.

    What earns the marks

    • Identifies 1066 as the date of the first arrival of Jews in England, linked to the Norman Conquest and William I.
    • Explains that Jews were protected by the crown because their moneylending and taxation were valuable to rulers.
    • Describes growing hostility towards Jews, including religious prejudice, debt resentment and violent attacks such as the York massacre of 1190.
    • States that Edward I expelled the Jews from England in 1290.
    • Explains the lives and economic role of resident 'aliens' such as merchants and craftsmen in medieval England.
    • Distinguishes the treatment of aliens by authorities from their treatment by the general population.
    • Assesses the extent of integration of aliens using evidence of settlement, intermarriage or legal status.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Confuses the expulsion date with the arrival date.

      Put it right: Keep 1066 for arrival and 1290 for expulsion.

    • Assumes all medieval immigrants were treated identically.

      Put it right: Separate crown policy from popular hostility and note differences between groups.

    • Treats 'alien' as a modern racial category.

      Put it right: Explain it as a legal term for a foreign-born resident.

    • Gives a general claim about integration without evidence.

      Put it right: Support the judgement with a specific example.

    Exam tips

    • Learn the two key dates, 1066 and 1290, and attach each to the correct event.
    • For each group, prepare one example of official treatment and one of popular treatment.
    • When a question asks about extent of integration, give a clear judgement and back it with evidence.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Migration to Britain c.1000 to c.2010 (J410/08) - c.1000–1500: Jews in England: their first arrival in 1066 and their treatment and experiences until their expulsion in 1290. Immigrants in England during the Middle Ages: the lives and impact of resident ‘aliens’; their treatment by the authorities and the population generally; the extent to which they integrated. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    In which year were the Jews expelled from England by Edward I?

    Listen

    This topic covers two linked groups within the period c.1000–1500. For Jews in England, you need the first arrival in 1066, associated with William I's invitation of settlers after the Norman Conquest, and then their treatment and experiences until Edward I's expulsion in 1290. Expect questions on why Jewish communities were valued (lending money, royal protection and taxation) and why hostility grew (religious prejudice, debt resentment, accusations and violence, including the 1190 York massacre). For medieval 'aliens', you need their lives and impact, how authorities and the general population treated them, and how far they integrated. Distinguish crown policy from popular attitudes, and support judgements with specific examples rather than general statements. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identifies 1066 as the date of the first arrival of Jews in England, linked to the Norman Conquest and William I. Explains that Jews were protected by the crown because their moneylending and taxation were valuable to rulers. Describes growing hostility towards Jews, including religious prejudice, debt resentment and violent attacks such as the York massacre of 1190. States that Edward I expelled the Jews from England in 1290. Exam tip: Learn the two key dates, 1066 and 1290, and attach each to the correct event.

    See it

    A flowchart running from top to bottom. The first box states that 1066 was the first arrival of Jews in England, linked to the Norman Conquest and William I. An arrow leads to a box saying Jews were protected by the crown because their moneylending and taxation were valuable to rulers. From this box three arrows lead to three separate boxes: growing hostility from religious prejudice; growing hostility from debt resentment; and violent attacks, including the York massacre of 1190. Arrows from all three of these boxes lead to a final box stating that Edward I expelled the Jews from England in 1290.
    It shows the sequence from the first arrival of Jews in England in 1066, through crown protection and growing hostility, to the expulsion in 1290.

    Put the events in order

    Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.

    1. 1. First arrival of Jews in England
    2. 2. Edward I expelled the Jews from England
    3. 3. York massacre of Jews

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Arrival and settlement

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Royal protection and taxation

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Religious prejudice and popular hostility

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Expulsion and integration

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Arrival and settlement
    The first arrival of Jews in England in 1066, linked to the Norman Conquest and William I's invitation of settlers.
    Royal protection and taxation
    Jews were protected by the crown because their moneylending and taxation were valuable to rulers.
    Religious prejudice and popular hostility
    Growing hostility towards Jews, including religious prejudice, debt resentment and violent attacks such as the York massacre of 1190.
    Expulsion and integration
    Edward I expelled the Jews from England in 1290; for aliens, the extent of integration is assessed using evidence of settlement, intermarriage or legal status.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A flowchart running from top to bottom. The first box states that 1066 was the first arrival of Jews in England, linked to the Norman Conquest and William I. An arrow leads to a box saying Jews were protected by the crown because their moneylending and taxation were valuable to rulers. From this box three arrows lead to three separate boxes: growing hostility from religious prejudice; growing hostility from debt resentment; and violent attacks, including the York massacre of 1190. Arrows from all three of these boxes lead to a final box stating that Edward I expelled the Jews from England in 1290.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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