The Bayeux Tapestry is a famous embroidered artwork that records which major event in English history in the year 1066?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: The Norman Conquest of England and the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most famous surviving pieces of medieval art and a crucial visual source for early English and Norman history. Despite its name, it is actually an embroidered cloth, not a woven tapestry. It stretches for many metres and tells a story in pictures and short Latin captions. General knowledge exams often ask which historical event it records, because the answer ties directly into the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The object in question is the Bayeux Tapestry, a long embroidered cloth.
  • The time period is the eleventh century, especially the year 1066.
  • The options mention several different events in English and European history.
  • We assume basic knowledge that William of Normandy and Harold of England fought at Hastings in 1066.


Concept / Approach:
The Bayeux Tapestry illustrates the events leading up to and including the Norman invasion of England. It shows scenes such as Harold Godwinson's journey, the preparation of ships, the landing of Norman forces and finally the Battle of Hastings in 1066, where William of Normandy defeated Harold and became William the Conqueror. Other important events such as the Magna Carta, the Black Death and the English Civil War belong to later centuries and are not depicted in this artwork. The correct approach is to match the tapestry with the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Bayeux Tapestry is connected with William of Normandy and the year 1066.Step 2: Connect the year 1066 with the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest of England.Step 3: Examine each option and see which one refers to the Norman Conquest and that battle.Step 4: Notice that the Magna Carta (1215), the Black Death (mid fourteenth century) and the English Civil War (seventeenth century) all fall in much later periods.Step 5: Choose the option that directly states that the tapestry records the Norman Conquest of England and the Battle of Hastings in 1066.


Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of images from the Bayeux Tapestry that often appear in textbooks, such as mounted Norman knights with kite shaped shields, Harold being struck in the eye and Latin inscriptions naming William and Harold. These are all scenes from the Norman invasion story. By contrast, there are no scenes of King John sealing Magna Carta, no depictions of plague victims, and no images of Parliamentarian and Royalist armies from the English Civil War. This clear mismatch confirms that only the Norman Conquest fits the tapestry.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is wrong because the Magna Carta was sealed in 1215, almost one and a half centuries after the events depicted in the tapestry. Option C is incorrect because the Black Death broke out in Europe in the fourteenth century, long after the tapestry was created. Option D is also wrong because the English Civil War took place in the seventeenth century, and the Bayeux Tapestry does not show any of its battles or leaders.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse major English historical events by date, especially when several are mentioned together. Another pitfall is to assume that any famous medieval object must be linked with any famous medieval event. A good strategy is to anchor the Bayeux Tapestry firmly to the specific year 1066 and to the story of William and Harold, so it is easy to reject events that occurred centuries later.


Final Answer:
The Bayeux Tapestry records the Norman Conquest of England and the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion