Summary:
History for Common Entrance is a new series covering the requirements of ISEB’s Common Entrance syllabus. It is endorsed by ISEB and fully prepares students for the Common Entrance.



This volume covers the popular topic Medieval Britain – especially focusing on

- Good and bad monarchs from William I to Richard III

- Religious life – including life in monasteries and convents and the Crusades

- Social life – village life, town life and medieval medicine



Key features of our approach:

- A bold, meaty and authoritative narrative providing clear explanation of the content

- Carefully constructed tasks developing pupils understanding of the content and building their extended writing skills – particularly preparing them for the challenge of the Common Entrance essay

- Source Investigations on each of the current and planned nominated topics in the syllabus

• Endorsed by ISEB and edited by the Chief Setter for Common Entrance History
• Bold authoritative author narrative - plenty for pupils to read so they can really get their teeth into history
• Focus on extended writing skills – particularly preparing pupils for writing Common Entrance essays
• An authoritative textbook for Common Entrance History
• Source Investigations on each of the current and planned nominated topics in the syllabus
• Additional boxed features throughout develop a sense of chronology; historical vocabulary; conceptual understanding; and biographical knowledge.

Table of Contents:
The Middle Ages: an overview
SECTION 1 GOOD AND BAD MONARCHS
What made a good medieval monarch?
Unit 1 How did William and the Normans conquer England?
Unit 2 Matilda or Stephen: who should reign?
Unit 3 Who made the biggest mistakes: John or Henry III?
Unit 4 Edward I: why was he such a success?
Unit 5 Richard II and the Peasants' Revolt: was he brave or devious?
Unit 6 Who was the real Henry V?
Unit 7 The Wars of the Roses: an overview
Unit 8 Richard III: wicked uncle or loyal brother?
SECTION 2 RELIGION IN THE MIDDLE AGES
Welcome to Canterbury
Unit 9 Church and State: Henry versus Becket
Unit 10 A visit to Canterbury Cathedral
Unit 11 Monks and nuns: what did they do and why did they do it?
Unit 12 Why was the Church so important to peasants?
Unit 13 What do Crusades tell us about the power of religion in the Middle Ages?
SECTION 3 HOW DID ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVE?
The medieval market place
Unit 14 Villages and towns: how did they change and why?
Unit 15 Health and medicine: how did medieval people cope with disease?
Unit 16 Law and order: how was it enforced?
Unit 17 What about the women?
Answering questions on a Common Entrance paper
Practice source exercises

About the Author(s):
Martin Collier, is Director of Studies at Oundle School, and marks many Common Entrance scripts each year. Colin Shephard and Rosemary Rees are Senior Examiners at GCSE and A level and are very experienced in preparing pupils for exam success.

Adviser
Bob Pace is Head of History at Belmont School in Mill Hill, and is Chief Setter for Common Entrance History

Readership:
Pupils preparing for Common Entrance History