Year 4 - Key Knowledge and Learning Outcomes

Year 4 Key Knowledge and Outcome

Autumn

The Romans 

  • A powerful empire that existed from 753BCE- 476CE
  • Had powerful Emperors and a powerful army which allowed them to invade parts of Europe easily.

When?

  • Invaded Britain twice
  • Julius Caesar failed to invade Britain in 55BCE. Claudius successfully invaded in 43CE.

Why?

  • Seen as an achievement to conquer an area so far away from Rome.
  • They wanted to make their empire as big and powerful as possible.
  • Britain had natural resources that the Romans wanted: minerals, precious metals and good land for agriculture.

Impact on Britain

  • Romans built large towns with stone buildings including heating. Built sewage systems within towns. Built long straight roads connecting towns together. Roman engineering developed large scale construction e.g. aqueducts. Britons began to speak and write in Latin. Romans replaced bartering with people now using coins to buy things. 
  • Romans faced some resistance. They introduced taxes which some Britons were unhappy about as they were paying for land which belonged to them.  
  • Boudicca led a revolt against the Romans.

Spring

Anglo Saxons 

  • Came to Britain in 410 AD- 1066AD
  • They were tribes from different counties in Scandinavia
  • Evidence suggests that some were invaders and some were settlers

How did they live their lives?

  • There was a large divide between rich and poor in society
  • Kings and Thegns were amongst the rich
  • Ceorls (Peasants) and Slaves were amongst the poor
  • Anglo-Saxons were Pagans but were converted to Christianity in later society. Saint Augustine was one of the monks who were responsible for this change.
  • Monks built monasteries which were places of learning 

Why did they come to Britain?

  1. They were invited: with Picts and Scots attacking from the north, the Britons invited some Anglo-Saxons to help defend them. But they didn’t leave! They took over. This is evidenced in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
  2. To fight: some Anglo-Saxons were warriors who enjoyed fighting. They thought the Britons were weak and easy to beat without the Romans around. 
  3. To farm: many Anglo-Saxons came peacefully, to find land to farm. Their homelands in Scandinavia often flooded so it was tough to grow enough food back there. There is a lot of archaeological evidence that they settled near rivers, with many settling as farmers in the countryside generally shunning the Roman towns.
  4. To make new homes: whole families set sail across the sea to settle in Britain. They brought tools, weapons and farm animals with them and built villages with new homes. This suggests that they were settlers.

Summer

Children will:

  • Understand why Chester was important to the Romans
  • Explain how Chester changed over time (Romans → Anglo-Saxons → later periods)
  • Use a range of sources (maps, buildings, artefacts)
  • Identify continuity and change
  • Develop chronological understanding of Chester’s history
  • Explain why Chester is historically significant

Knowledge

  • Chester began as a Roman fortress (Deva Victrix)
  • The Romans built walls, roads, and infrastructure
  • Anglo-Saxons reused and adapted Roman settlements
  • Chester developed into an important medieval city
  • Evidence of the past still exists (walls, amphitheatre, rows)