Final answer:
Emma of Normandy was significant in the long term because she played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of England through her marriages and her children. Her diplomatic skills and alliances helped secure her sons' claims to the throne, leading to the Norman Conquest and the establishment of a new ruling elite in England.
Step-by-step explanation:
Emma of Normandy was significant in the long term because she played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of England. She was the wife of two kings, Ethelred the Unready and Canute the Great, and the mother of two more, Edward the Confessor and Harthacnut.
Through her marriages and her children, Emma had a lasting impact on the succession of the English throne and the future stability of the kingdom.
Emma's diplomatic skills and alliances with powerful nobles helped to secure her sons' claims to the throne. Her son Edward the Confessor became King of England, and her grandson William the Conqueror famously led the Norman invasion of England in 1066.
This invasion marked a significant turning point in English history, leading to the Norman Conquest and the establishment of a new ruling elite in England.
Emma of Normandy's influence on the English monarchy and her role in the Norman Conquest make her an important figure in the long-term history of England.