Social Studies Bell Ringer for Grades 9–12: Judging the Bayeux Tapestry as a historical source
A free social studies bell ringer for grades 9–12. Put the prompt on the board as students walk in, give them three to five minutes, then go over it together. The answer and teacher notes are in the box below the prompt.
The prompt
The Battle of Hastings, fought on October 14, 1066, made the Normans rulers of England. Much of what people picture about it comes from the Bayeux Tapestry, an embroidered strip of linen about 230 feet long with more than 70 scenes. It may have been commissioned by Odo, bishop of Bayeux, who was William the Conqueror's half brother. As a historian, what two questions would you ask before trusting the tapestry as evidence? How might its origin shape the story it tells?
Answer and teacher notes
Answers will vary. Strong questions: Who made it and who paid for it? When was it made, and how long after the events? Who was the intended audience? What does it leave out? Does it agree with written accounts from both sides?
If a close relative of the winner sponsored it, it likely presents the Norman conquest as justified and may give Odo a flattering role (Britannica notes he is prominent in the later scenes). That doesn't make it useless: it is still excellent evidence for clothing, weapons, ships, and how the Normans wanted the story told. The exact date is unknown, but it is generally dated no later than about 1092. The tapestry is on display at the British Museum in London through July 2027, its first time in England in about 900 years.
Sources: Britannica: Bayeux Tapestry; Britannica: Battle of Hastings; NPR: The Bayeux Tapestry returns to England
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