What does Samuel Pepys reveal about Restoration England?

An introduction to the Restoration period that could be used with more able KS3 students, or with KS4 students studying AQA’s Restoration England unit. It could be a good as a homework before starting the unit, as an activity to develop a strong sense of period and chronological understanding or as a springboard for class discussion of key substantive concepts like ‘commonwealth’.

Students answer questions about a primary source – a picture of Samuel Pepys from the National Portrait Gallery – and use their responses to answer the enquiry question of the title. They then carry out internet research to learn more about Pepys' life and what it reveals about the historical period more generally.