Transcript File
The Normans
The Normans – Contents
Who were the Normans?
Timeline
Dwellings
Food
Clothing & Travel
Battle of Hastings
Strongbow
Normans in Ireland
My coat of arms
Who were the Normans ?
The Normans were people
who lived in Normandy in
Northern France.
They were originally Vikings
from Scandinavia.
The name Normandy comes
from the French word
Normand, meaning
Norsemen and Normans.
Timeline
800: Norse raids (from Scandinavia to the North France)
910: The King of France gives this land (Normandy) to the
Normans on condition they become Christians.
1032: A small group of Normans conquers southern Italy
and Sicily.
1066: The Norman invasion of England by Duke William.
1080: William conquers England and became know as
William the Conqueror
1100: The first Crusade to the Holy Land by Norman and
Christian knights.
1169-1177: Strongbow and Welsh-Norman knights land in
Ireland
Norman Dwellings
The Normans lived in wattle and daub huts with
thatched straw roofs.
After invading Britain they also built castles to defend
there new kingdom.
Building a Castle
When Normans captured an area, they built a castle.
The first castles were made from wood. These castles
could be built in a few months, sometimes in weeks. Later
they built castles made of stone.
The Normans spent a long time choosing a site for the
castle (The site had to be just right):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Good view and supply of water
Timber and stone nearby
A large amount of people living nearby
It had to be easy to defend
It had to have solid rock underneath it.
Food
There were no supermarkets or shops
to buy food so the Normans ate what
they could grow or hunt.
The Normans ate plants including
vegetables, wild nuts, berries and
grain to make bread and also porridge,
herbs and leaves.
They also hunted animals like deer,
wild boar, fox, beaver and bear.
They also caught fish and had
chickens, goats, sheep and pigs.
They ate honey from bees.
Clothing & Travel
Their clothes were made
from animal skins.
They travelled by horse or
boat, and got cattle to pull
carts
In battle they had very
advanced protective
clothing
The Battle of Hastings
The Normans, led by William the
Conqueror, defeated the English
at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
The battle was won after the
English King Harold got an arrow
in the eye – Ouch!
The Bayeaux Tapestry was made
by the Normans to celebrate.
Strongbow
Strongbow was a fierce
Norman warrior who came
from Normandy.
Strongbow’s real name
was Richard de Clare.
Strongbow grew up in
Wales.
Normans in Ireland
King Diarmait Mac Murchada of Leinster was expelled from Ireland by High King
Rory O’Connor
In 1166 Diarmait Mac Murchada asked King Henry II of England for help.
King Henry II said he could not help him but he gave permission for Diarmait to
ask his people for help.
When Diarmait went to Strongbows town, Strongbow agreed to help him, on
condition he can marry Diarmaits daughter Aoife and becomes King of Leinster
when Diarmait dies.
Diarmait died in 1171 & Strongbow became King of Leinster
King Henry II did not like that Strongbow was becoming powerful so he planned
to invade Ireland. Strongbow asked him for forgiveness handed him Lenister.
King Henry II made Strongbow Lord of Lenister
King Henry II took control of most of Ireland & he was promised the loyalty of
every major Irish king other than O'Connor of Connacht and O'Neill in the north.
Normans in Ireland
My coat of arms:
Thank you !
By: Éabha Mannion