1066: The Year That Changed Everything

Gain a greater understanding of a year full of pivotal changes, including what led up to it, what happened during that fateful year, and everything that would come afterward.

Overview

Course No. 30070

If you were to look back at hundreds of years of history in search of the one critical moment after which the history of the English-speaking world would never be the same again, it would undoubtedly be the year 1066. For it was during this pivotal time that an event occurred that would have untold ramifications for the European continent: the Norman Conquest of England.

Professor Jennifer Paxton of Georgetown University argues that the Norman Conquest matters deeply for two key reasons: It reoriented England with Europe rather than Scandinavia, and it fused English and French culture in ways that would reshape history. This six-lecture course takes you from the shores of Scandinavia and France to the battlefields of the English countryside, plunging you into a world of fierce Viking warriors, powerful noble families, politically charged marriages, tense succession crises, and epic military invasions.

Video Lectures

1. The Norman Conquest through History (34 min)
   What makes 1066 such a pivotal year? How has the Norman Conquest been interpreted over time? Examine how two strategic marriages laid the groundwork for this tumultuous moment in history.
2. England and Normandy before the Conquest (34 min)
   Explore the chaotic half-century between 1016 and 1066, focusing on Edward the Confessor and William the Bastard – two figures whose actions would put England and Normandy on a collision course.
3. The Succession Crisis in England (34 min)
   Investigate Edward the Confessor’s succession plans, meet the contenders to the throne, and follow Harold Godwinson’s victory at Stamford Bridge before facing William’s invasion.
4. The Battle of Hastings (32 min)
   Relive one of history’s most decisive battles. Learn about Norman invasion preparations, medieval warfare tactics, and a blow-by-blow account of the battle that changed England forever.
5. Completing the Conquest (35 min)
   Discover how William consolidated his victory through diplomacy and military strategy, overcame rebellions, and established Norman rule across England.
6. The Aftermath of the Conquest (37 min)
   Examine the cultural fusion between Normans and English, and understand how this pivotal year transitioned England into the European mainstream.