This course will carefully examine the situation facing the rise of Harold Godwinson in 1066, and the pressures he faced upon his accession. We will go on to look at the rival claimants to the English throne, their motives and their manoeuvres. We will finally look in more detail at the circumstances surrounding the fateful battles of Fulford, Stamford Bridge and Hastings, and consider reasons for their outcomes and the kind of tactics used, before making a final analysis of the success of William the Conqueror and his achievement of the English throne by the end of the year.
Course aim
Exactly how did King Harold lose his throne in 1066? This course will examine the critical events and personalities of that fateful year.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- No skills or experience needed
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Demonstrate an awareness of the circumstances surrounding the rise of Harold Godwinson as king of England
- Provide an outline of the motives and actions of the rivals for the English throne
- Demonstrate an overview of the main course of events at the Battle of Hastings
How will I be taught?
- The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you and the group to be actively involved in your learning
What kind of feedback can I expect?
- A range of informal activities will be used by the tutor to see what you are learning which may include quizzes, question and answer, small projects and discussion
- You will have opportunities to discuss your progress with your tutor
- You will be encouraged to share your work with the group and discuss your learning
- You will be encouraged to consider other students work and give your opinions and suggestions
What else do I need to know?
- Nothing else is needed
Pre-course work, reading and information sources
- No pre reading is required but research on the subject on the internet or in the library may be helpful
What can I do next?
- Progress to another WEA course
Download full Course information sheet
