The Normans Part One (Online)

What comes to mind when you think of ‘The Normans’? It might be castles, knights in chain mail, the conquest of England in 1066, or the Domesday Book.

There is a great deal more to this iconic historical phenomenon than that, and it can be hard to imagine what life was like before their rise to power. Exactly who were they, what did they achieve - did they have any weaknesses? - and crucially, what was their influence on territories they came to dominate?

In term one of our voyage of discovery we will examine their early origins in Scandinavia, and follow their aggressive ‘Viking’ campaigns in France until the tenth century when they start to embed and build communities that were distinct from their French neighbours. Their success in transforming into high ranking French aristocracy and landowners, and the renewal of their efforts in reaching out across and beyond Europe to gain land and power, including of course in Britain, is an engrossing combination of ruthlessness, acquisitiveness and political acumen. At the same time their undeniable influence in the areas of law, language, architecture will be outlined, as well as their military, cultural and dynastic legacy, all the while mindful of the historical context in which they operated.

How will the course be delivered?

The course will consist of twelve, two hour Zoom meetings beginning in September 2026; as well as the meetings you will receive regular email updates from the tutor, access to a dedicated WhatsApp group, and the opportunity to have sessions recorded if you can't make it to all of them.

Your tutor

Gill Rossini, BA, MA is a highly experienced and published historian who has been teaching in the post 18 sector since 1988. She is a past Tutor of the Year.