AQA GCSE History · 8145
Paper 2
Revise: Military AspectsEnglish troops used a shield wall: men standing close together with overlapping shields, protecting one another while resisting enemy attacks.
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GCSE History · key term
A defensive formation in which soldiers stand close together with overlapping shields, creating a barrier against enemy attacks.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Paper 2
Revise: Military AspectsEnglish troops used a shield wall: men standing close together with overlapping shields, protecting one another while resisting enemy attacks.
Paper 2
A defensive formation in which soldiers stood close together with overlapping shields, protecting one another against enemy attacks.
Revise: The Norman InvasionHarold occupied the high ground on Senlac Hill. His soldiers fought on foot, standing close together with overlapping shields to create a shield wall. Several rows of men supported the front line.
Paper 1, Paper 3
A defensive formation in which soldiers stood close together with their shields forming a protective barrier.
Revise: BattlesHousecarls fought on foot and could form a shield wall, standing close together behind their shields to create a defensive barrier.
A fighting formation in which warriors stand close together with overlapping shields to protect the line.
Explain how a tactic worked: English pursuit broke the shield wall, allowing Norman horsemen to attack exposed soldiers.
Do not treat the shield wall as a weak tactic. It resisted uphill attacks for much of the battle; its effectiveness depended on soldiers maintaining their formation.
When explaining a reason for victory, connect evidence to its effect. Norman cavalry mattered because it could exploit gaps once the shield wall weakened.
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