United Kingdom · National Curriculum Attainment Targets
Year 4 History
Key Stage 2 History Year 4: a comprehensive study of the Roman Empire's impact on Britain, the Anglo-Saxon settlement, and the Viking raids, focusing on social change, resistance, and the formation of the English kingdom.
01The Rise of the Roman Empire
Exploring the origins of Rome, its military expansion, and the social structures that supported a global superpower.
Investigating the mythical origins of Rome and what the story tells us about Roman values.
Understanding the structure of the early Roman Republic, including the roles of citizens, consuls, and the Senate.
Examining the equipment, training, and tactics of the Roman Legionaries.
Exploring the life and campaigns of Julius Caesar, focusing on his rise to power and impact on the Republic.
Understanding the shift from Republic to Empire and how emperors like Augustus maintained control.
Discovering how aqueducts, arches, and concrete allowed Rome to grow into a megacity.
Exploring the hierarchy of Roman society, including the roles of patricians, plebeians, and the enslaved.
Learning about the main Roman deities, their myths, and their importance in daily Roman life.
Investigating the purpose and spectacle of gladiatorial games and other forms of Roman entertainment.
Exploring how Roman children were educated, the subjects they studied, and their daily lives.
Discovering the characteristics of Roman art, including portraiture, frescoes, and statues.
Studying the Roman Forum as the central hub for political, religious, and social life.
Exploring the preserved city of Pompeii to understand daily life in a Roman town.
02Roman Britain: Invasion and Resistance
Analysing the Roman conquest of Britain and the fierce opposition from Iron Age tribes.
Understanding the society, culture, and daily life of the Celtic tribes in Britain before the Roman arrival.
The story of Julius Caesar's early expeditions to Britain and the British reaction.
How Emperor Claudius succeeded where Caesar failed and the establishment of the province of Britannia.
A deep dive into the Iceni revolt and the destruction of Roman Londinium, Camulodunum, and Verulamium.
The long resistance of the Catuvellauni and the Silures against the Roman advance into Wales.
Understanding the religious leaders of the Celts and why the Romans feared and targeted them.
Studying the construction and purpose of Hadrian's Wall as a defensive barrier and cultural boundary.
03Life in Roman Britain
Investigating the cultural fusion of Roman and Celtic lifestyles and the legacy of their architecture.
Studying the grid systems, forums, and amphitheatres of towns like Verulamium and Colchester.
A look at the social and health aspects of the public bathing ritual in Roman Britain.
How the Romans introduced new crops, animals, and dining habits to Britain.
Exploring the architecture and daily life within Roman villas, contrasting with urban living.
Exploring Roman aesthetics and the stories told through mosaic floors and other decorative arts.
Understanding the network of Roman roads in Britain and their importance for trade, military, and administration.
Investigating the daily life of Roman soldiers stationed in Britain and the design of their forts.
Exploring how Roman and Celtic cultures blended in Britain, creating a unique Romano-British identity.
04The End of Rome and the Anglo-Saxon Arrival
Tracing the decline of Roman authority and the subsequent settlement of Germanic tribes.
The coordinated attacks by Picts, Scots, and Saxons that weakened Roman Britain.
The moment in AD 410 when Emperor Honorius told Britain to 'look to its own defences'.
Identifying the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes and their reasons for migration to Britain.
Analysing the ship burial at Sutton Hoo to understand Anglo-Saxon wealth, craftsmanship, and beliefs.
Daily life in an Anglo-Saxon settlement and the importance of the Lord's Mead Hall as a community hub.
Learning about the seven main Anglo-Saxon kingdoms (Heptarchy) and their constant struggles for dominance.
05Viking Raids and the Struggle for England
The arrival of the Northmen and the conflict with the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
Exploring the origins of the Vikings, their Norse mythology, and their seafaring culture.
Investigating the design and capabilities of the Viking longship and its role in their expansion.
The shocking attack on the Holy Island and its impact on Christian Europe.
The shift from small raids to a full-scale invasion of the English kingdoms by a large Viking force.
How Alfred saved Wessex and made a peace treaty with the Vikings, establishing the Danelaw.
Exploring the Viking city of York (Jorvik) and its role as a global trading hub and settlement.
06The Making of England
The final unification of the English kingdoms and the lasting legacy of the early medieval period.
The grandson of Alfred who finally unified the various kingdoms into one England.
Understanding the Tithing, the Witan, and the use of 'Wergild' in Anglo-Saxon legal systems.
The mission of St Augustine and the blending of pagan and Christian traditions in Anglo-Saxon England.
Exploring the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings, focusing on the contenders for the English throne.
The end of the Anglo-Saxon era and the beginning of Norman rule in England.
A review of how Romans, Saxons, and Vikings shaped modern Britain, focusing on language, place names, and culture.