8B- Sites and sights

READING and VOCABULARY

2. READING and VOCABULARY wars and battles

a Look at the photos and label 1-5 with words from the list. What do you think
is happening?
The photos show the historical re-enactment of a battle.

archer arrow bow helmet shield

English Pronunciation Example sentence Castellano

archer /ˈɑːtʃə/ The archer fired dozens of arrows into the air. arquero
arrow /ˈærəʊ/ The arrow was as long as my arm and had white feathers at the end. flecha
bow /bəʊ/ The archer used a bow which was nearly as tall as he was. arco
helmet /ˈhelmɪt/ Was his helmet made of metal or leather? casco
shield /ʃiːld/ The shield was painted in the colours of the army's flag. escudo

b Read the information on p.133 from a website about the Battle of Hastigs. Were you right
about what was happening in the photos in a? Then match 1-5 on the map to the places
from the list.
3 Battle 5 Bayeux 4 Hastings

2 Norway 1 Stamford Bridge

The battle that changed England’s History

Every year, on 14th October, a famous battle is re-enacted on the exact site where the
original battle took place. Over 600 people dress up in period costumes and bring the story of an
11th century battle to life. The Battle of Hastings, which was fougth in 1066, is one of the best-
known events of English history, when William of Normandy defeated the army of King Harold
of England. This marked the end of the Anglo-Saxon era and the beginning of
Norman rule.

1066 was a turbulent year for England. King Harold had succeded his brother-in-law, Edward,
as King of England, but he was being attacked by others who wanted to rule the country – the
King of Norway, and Duke William of Normandy (in what is now France). The Norwegians
invaded in the north, and were defeated by the English army at the battle of Stamford Bridge on
25th September, but soon after, the Normans landed in Sussex on the south coast, and made
their camp near the small seaside town of Hastings.

The English army immediately travelled south. On 13 th October, after covering 275 miles, they
arrived exhausted near Hastings, and on the morning of 14 th, the two armies met in a field about 7
miles north-west of the town. Each army had between 5,000 and 7,000 men. They had similar
armour and weapons, but William had over 2,000 cavalry, whereas the English fought on foot.
William also had archers with powerful bows.

The battle lasted all day. The English soldiers used their shields to protect themselves against the
Normans’ arrows, but gradually the Normans gained control, and in the last attack, King Harold
was killed. The English lost the battle, and on Christmas Day, William of Normandy was
crowned King of England. He later became known as William the Conqueror.

F.Actualización: 10/03/2024 8B – READING 1

 8B- Sites and sights
READING and VOCABULARY

In 1071, King William built an abbey on the site where the battle had taken place, as a
memorial to all those who had died. Although no relics of the battle have ever been found
there, we have very strong evidence that it took place, because an enormous tapestry was
made – nearly 70 metres long – showing the story of the battle. This tapestry, which was
completed in about 1077, is known as the Bayeux tapestry, and it has been kept in France for
nearly 1000 years. It can be visited in a museum in the town of Bayeux, Normandy.

William’s abbey was called Battle Abbey, and the town that grew up nearby was also called
Battle. The whole of the town would once have been part of the battlefield; for example,
Harold’s soldier’s almost certainly retreated up what is currently Battle high street. Although
the abbey was destroyed by King Henry VIII in the 16th century, the ruins and the battlefield
remain one of the most atmospheric historical sites in Britain today.

c Read the information again. Number the events in chronological order.

7. Battle Abbey was built.

10. Battle Abbey was destroyed.
1. Harold became King of England.
5. King Harold was killed.
8. The Bayeux tapestry was finished
4. The Battle of Hastings was fought between the English and the Normans.
3. The Normans landed in Sussex.
9. The town of Battle was named after the battle that took place there.
2. The Norwegians attacked the north of England.
6. William became King of England

d Look at the highlighted verbs related to wars and battles. Which one is irregular?
What is the infinitive? Guess their meaning from the context.

fought is irregular. The infinitive is fight

Word Meaning Significado

en español
fight to take part in a war or battle against an enemy defeat = luchar
to win against sb in a war, competition, game, etc.
defeat (win: military) derrotar,
vencer
succeed to achieve sth that you have been trying to do / get suceder
invade to enter a country, town, etc. using military force in order to take invadir
kill to make sb/sth die matar
crown to move away from a place or an enemy coronar
because you are in danger or because you
have been defeated.
retreat to move away from a place or an enemy retirarse
because you are in danger or because you
you have been defeated
destroy to damage sth so badly that it no longer exists, works, etc. destruir

F.Actualización: 10/03/2024 8B – READING 2

 8B- Sites and sights
READING and VOCABULARY

Word Meaning Significado en español

re-enacted (reconstruction of events) reconstrucción, recreación
period costumes trajes de época
Norman rule dominio normando
succeed [sb] follow suceder a
land (come ashore) desembarcar
seaside (seacoast) costa, playa
cavalry (soldiers on horseback) soldados de caballeria
relic reliquia
retreat uncountable (military) retirada
battlefield campo de batalla
ceasefire (war: stop fighting) alto el fuego
cold war (hostility: Soviet Union Guerra fría
and West)
break out (war, disease, chaos: estallar
begin)
Bombing bombardeo

Speakers of Spanish

Go online for extra Vocabulary > history and conflict

F.Actualización: 10/03/2024 8B – READING 3