Viking expansion, c.750-c.1050

    OCR
    GCSE

    This study analyses the explosion of Scandinavian activity across Europe and the North Atlantic between c.750 and c.1050. Candidates must evaluate the multifaceted nature of this expansion, moving beyond the stereotype of violent raiding to assess the significance of trading networks (from Dublin to Kiev), settlement patterns (the Danelaw, Normandy, Iceland), and political integration. Mastery of the topic requires understanding the transition from opportunistic piracy to state-sponsored conquest and the eventual assimilation of Norse populations into Christian Europe, marking the end of the Viking Age.

    11
    Objectives
    8
    Exam Tips
    7
    Pitfalls
    7
    Key Terms
    8
    Mark Points

    Subtopics in this area

    Viking expansion, c.750-c.1050
    Viking expansion, c.750-c.1050

    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • Raid on Lindisfarne (793) as the symbolic start of the Viking Age.
    • Arrival of the Great Heathen Army (865) marking the shift from raiding to conquest.
    • Establishment of the Danelaw and the Treaty of Wedmore (878).
    • King Cnut's North Sea Empire (1016–1035) integrating England into a Scandinavian polity.
    • Harald Bluetooth's Jelling Stones symbolizing the conversion to Christianity.
    • Trade routes via the Volga river to Constantinople (Miklagard).
    • Raid on Lindisfarne (793) as the symbolic start of the Viking Age.
    • Arrival of the Great Heathen Army (865) and the capture of York.
    • Establishment of the Danelaw and the Treaty of Wedmore (878) between Alfred and Guthrum.
    • Reign of Cnut (1016–1035) and the North Sea Empire.
    • Battle of Stamford Bridge (1066) marking the end of the Viking threat.

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have described the event accurately; now explain its consequence to access Level 3 marks."
    • "Your inference is valid, but you must quote the source directly to prove where you found it."
    • "Avoid storytelling in the essay; focus on arguing why one factor was more significant than the other."
    • "Differentiate between the impact of raiding versus the long-term cultural impact of settlement."
    • "You have described the event accurately; now explain *why* this was a turning point for Anglo-Saxon society."
    • "The source analysis identifies the content well, but fails to address how the author's purpose affects its reliability."
    • "Avoid generalisations like 'The Vikings were violent'; specify which group and in what context (e.g., 'The Great Heathen Army's campaign of 865')."
    • "Your judgment is present but assertive; support it by weighing the relative importance of the factors discussed."

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for precise selection of evidence (e.g., specific mention of the Great Heathen Army rather than generic 'raiders').
    • Credit responses that establish clear causal links between population pressure in Scandinavia and expansionism.
    • In 'Write an account' questions, candidates must demonstrate a structured narrative that highlights sequence and consequence, not just a list of events.
    • High-level responses must evaluate the 'significance' of the Danelaw as a cultural hybrid zone, not just a military boundary.
    • Credit responses that distinguish between 'push' factors (e.g., Scandinavian overpopulation, primogeniture) and 'pull' factors (e.g., wealth of monasteries, political fragmentation of Heptarchy).
    • Award marks for specific evidence regarding the Great Heathen Army (865) versus earlier sporadic raids (Lindisfarne 793).
    • Candidates must analyze the nature of the Danelaw, specifically the legal and cultural synthesis in York (Jorvik).
    • High-level responses must evaluate the extent of assimilation, contrasting the violent resistance of Alfred the Great with the integration seen under Cnut.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡For 'Write an account' (Q2), use chronological linking words (e.g., 'Subsequently', 'As a direct result') to secure AO1 structure marks.
    • 💡In 'How far do you agree' (Q4/5), ensure the conclusion provides a nuanced judgment that weighs the relative importance of factors.
    • 💡When analyzing sources (Q1), explicitly state the inference first, then support it with a specific detail from the source.
    • 💡Allocate approximately 25 minutes to the final 18-mark essay to ensure depth of analysis.
    • 💡When addressing 'How far' questions, ensure the conclusion provides a nuanced judgment on the relative weight of factors, not just a summary.
    • 💡Use specific terminology like 'longphort', 'Danegeld', and 'burh' to demonstrate AO1 precision.
    • 💡In source questions, explicitly link the provenance (who, when, why) to the content to assess weight or utility.
    • 💡Allocate 25 minutes to the 18-mark essay; plan for three distinct analytical paragraphs plus a sustained conclusion.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Conflating the initial raids (Lindisfarne) with the later phase of political conquest (Cnut/Sweyn Forkbeard).
    • Treating 'Vikings' as a monolithic group; failing to distinguish between Danish settlers in England and Swedish traders in the East.
    • Providing a narrative description of events in 'Explain' questions rather than analyzing second-order concepts like causation.
    • Treating 'Vikings' as a monolithic political entity rather than distinct groups from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
    • Presenting a narrative of events (storytelling) rather than a causal analysis of why expansion occurred or succeeded.
    • Failing to differentiate between the initial raiding phase and the later settlement/farming phase.
    • Asserting that Vikings destroyed Christianity entirely in the Danelaw, ignoring evidence of rapid conversion.

    Study Guide Available

    Comprehensive revision notes & examples

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    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    What can you learn
    Write an account
    Explain
    How far do you agree
    Describe
    Evaluate
    Why
    How far
    How useful
    Study Source A

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