War and British Society c.790 to c.2010 (J410/10) - c.790–c.1500 — OCR GCSE History
Verified courseTeaching note checked against the official specification.
War and British Society c.790 to c.2010 (J410/10) - c.790–c.1500 explained
War and British Society c.790 to c.2010 (J410/10) - c.790–c.1500 covers 4 specification points, including Impact of the raids; responses to the raids.
Read the full explanation
and English resistance; the establishment of…. Open a point below for its explanation and revision guidance.
Viking raids on Anglo-Saxon England 790–1066: impact of the raids; responses to the raids.
This depth topic covers Viking attacks on Anglo-Saxon England between 790 and 1066 and asks you to know both their impact and the responses they provoked. Impact includes destruction of monasteries and settlements, seizure of loot and tribute, disruption of trade and agriculture, and political change as kingdoms reorganised. Responses include payment of tribute or Danegeld, fortified burhs and reorganised armies under Alfred and his successors, and eventual settlement and accommodation with Viking leaders. For a multiple-choice question, read the stem carefully and test each option against these two strands: does it describe an effect of the raids, or a reaction to them? Eliminate options that fall outside 790–1066 or that confuse impact with response. The correct option will match the specific strand the question names.
The Norman Conquest: English resistance; the establishment of Norman control under William I; the establishment of the Feudal system; the extent of the impact of the changes introduced by the Normans on different levels of society.
This topic asks you to connect four strands. First, English resistance after 1066: local risings such as the northern revolt of 1069 and Hereward's resistance in the Fens, and how William I answered them. Second, the establishment of Norman control: castle building, the march to harry the north, and the submission at Berkhamsted and later at Ely. Third, the establishment of the feudal system: land held from the king in return for military service, with tenants-in-chief, under-tenants and unfree peasants. Fourth, the extent of change for different levels of society: barons, knights, the Church, townspeople and peasants each felt the Conquest differently. A good answer weighs continuity against change rather than assuming everything altered at once.
Feudal society c.1100–1215: feudal relationship between monarchs and barons; breakdowns in the relationship under Stephen 1135– 1154 and John 1214–1216.
This topic focuses on the bond between monarch and barons in the period c.1100–1215. A baron held land from the king in return for military service, counsel and financial obligations such as relief and scutage; the king in turn owed protection and justice. The relationship broke down twice within the stated dates. Under Stephen (1135–1154) disputed succession to the throne after Henry I's death led to civil war with Matilda's supporters, and barons exploited weak royal authority by building unauthorised castles. Under John (1214–1216) military failure in France and heavy financial demands provoked baronial opposition, producing Magna Carta in 1215 and open rebellion. Keep your examples inside these date ranges.
Significance of war in medieval society c.1290–c.1450: changing nature of war and its effects; development and adaptation of feudal service; financial cost of war; impact on populations where armies fought or were stationed.
Between c.1290 and c.1450 warfare in Britain changed in scale and method, and this theme asks you to weigh its significance for society. Armies relied less on the old feudal levy of knights serving for a set number of days and more on paid service, contracts and professional soldiers, so feudal obligation was adapted rather than simply abolished. War was expensive: wages, supplies, transport, horses, armour and fortifications drained royal and noble finances, and taxation and purveyance shifted the burden onto ordinary people. Where armies fought or were stationed, populations faced requisitioning of food and goods, damage to crops and property, disruption of trade and, at worst, violence and displacement. A strong answer links each change to a consequence for different groups, such as lords, townspeople and peasants, and judges how far war reshaped medieval society.
Your focus
- Identify impacts of the Viking raids on Anglo-Saxon England.
- Identify responses to the raids, including tribute and fortified defence.
- Distinguish an impact from a response when choosing an option.
Show all 12 objectives
- Identify examples of English resistance to Norman rule after 1066.
- Explain how William I established and maintained Norman control.
- Evaluate the extent of change for different levels of society under the Normans.
- Describe the feudal relationship between monarchs and barons c.1100–1215.
- Explain the breakdown in that relationship under Stephen 1135–1154 and John 1214–1216.
- Compare the causes of the two breakdowns within the stated dates.
- Explain how the nature of war changed between c.1290 and c.1450.
- Describe how feudal service was adapted to meet the demands of war.
- Assess the financial and social impact of war on different groups in medieval society.
War and British Society c.790 to c.2010 (J410/10) - c.790–c.1500 exam tips
Marking Points
- Identifies destruction of monasteries and settlements as an impact of the Viking raids.
- Identifies payment of tribute or Danegeld as a response to the raids.
- Identifies fortified burhs and reorganised defence as a response associated with Alfred and his successors.
- Distinguishes an impact of the raids from a response to them when selecting an option.
- Rejects options that fall outside the 790–1066 period or misattribute a response to the wrong ruler.
- Identifies English resistance after 1066, such as the northern risings and Hereward's resistance, and explains how William I responded to it.
- Explains how William I established Norman control, for example through castle building, the harrying of the north and the submission of English leaders.
- Describes the feudal system as land held from the monarch in return for service, with tenants-in-chief, under-tenants and peasants at different levels.
- Assesses the extent of change for different levels of society, weighing continuity for peasants against greater change for the Anglo-Saxon nobility.
- Explains the feudal relationship between monarch and barons as land held in return for military service, counsel and financial obligations.
- Identifies the breakdown under Stephen 1135–1154 as a disputed succession leading to civil war and weakened royal authority.
- Identifies the breakdown under John 1214–1216 as baronial opposition driven by military failure and financial demands, leading to Magna Carta and rebellion.
- Compares the two breakdowns, noting that both involved barons exploiting or resisting weak royal authority within the stated dates.
- Explains how the changing nature of war altered the composition of armies and the experience of those who fought.
- Describes how feudal service was adapted through paid service and contracts rather than simply disappearing.
- Identifies the financial cost of war, including wages, supplies and fortifications, and who bore that cost.
- Assesses the impact on populations where armies fought or were stationed, such as requisitioning, damage and disruption.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Underline the key word in the stem — impact or response — before reading the options.
- 💡Eliminate any option whose date or figure falls outside 790–1066.
- 💡Check the remaining options against both strands before committing to one answer.
- 💡Read the whole stem before choosing, because options often differ only in the level of society affected.
- 💡Reject options that claim all change happened instantly in 1066.
- 💡Link each option to a named group, such as barons or peasants, to test whether it is accurate.
- 💡Check the dates in each option against the stated ranges before selecting.
- 💡Match each option to the correct monarch, Stephen or John.
- 💡Look for options that describe obligations in only one direction, as these are usually wrong.
- 💡Read the question stem carefully to see whether it asks about change, cost, feudal service or impact on populations, and target that clause.
- 💡Use specific examples such as paid contracts or requisitioning to support each point rather than general statements.
- 💡When comparing options in a multiple-choice question, eliminate any that overstate change, such as claiming feudal service ended outright.
Common Mistakes
- Confuses impact with response; check whether the option describes an effect of the raids or a reaction to them.
- Selects an option dated outside 790–1066; verify the date against the stated period.
- Assumes all responses were military; remember tribute payment and negotiated settlement also count as responses.
- Attributes a defensive measure to the wrong ruler; match the response to the figure the source supports.
- Treats the Norman Conquest as a single event in 1066; recognise that resistance and the establishment of control continued for years afterwards.
- Assumes every level of society experienced change equally; compare barons, knights, the Church, townspeople and peasants separately.
- Describes the feudal system as simply a tax; explain that it was a relationship of land held in return for service.
- Places the breakdowns outside the stated dates; keep Stephen's reign to 1135–1154 and John's crisis to 1214–1216.
- Describes the feudal relationship as one-sided; explain the mutual obligations of service and protection between monarch and barons.
- Confuses the two reigns; attribute the disputed succession to Stephen's reign and the Magna Carta crisis to John's.
- Assumes feudal service vanished completely by 1450; recognise that it was adapted and combined with paid arrangements.
- Treats the cost of war as falling only on the king; consider taxation, purveyance and the burden on ordinary people.
- Ignores civilians entirely and discusses only soldiers; include populations affected by fighting and army stationing.