2.4.3 The Domesday Book

Question 1

What was the Domesday Book?

Answer 1

The Domesday Survey (which later became the Domesday Book) was the biggest gathering of information in English history. It was carried out in 1086, and in its written form, during the reign of William II, it became an invaluable source of evidence for historians.

Question 2

There a number of theories as to why William I ordered the Domesday Survey. Some of the main reasons considered are: (4)

Answer 2

• to help collect taxes accurately and so ensure that William got as much money as possible,
• to make sure feudal lords were not hiding wealth that could be used to threaten his position.
• to record and settle arguments over land that existed after the invasion.
• to make it clear that all land was held by permission of the king.

Question 3

What were the Domesday findings about the amount of people? (4)

Answer 3

• 28,235 slaves.
• 110,000 peasants bound to their lords.
• 1000 tenants-in-chief.
• 8,000 under-tenants.

Question 4

What did the Domesday Survey find about the distribution of land? (4)

Answer 4

• William and his family owned about 20% of the land.
• The church held around 25%.
• Around 10 members of the Norman aristocracy held 25% between them.
• 170 others held the remaining 30%.

Question 5

What did the Domesday Survey find about the population?

Answer 5

• The population of England was estimated as being 2 million people in the 11th century as a result of the Domesday Book statistics.
• Roughly 10% of the population were noted as slaves.

Question 6

How many names are recorded in the Domesday Book?

Answer 6

13,400

Question 7

When did William order the Domesday survey?

Answer 7

December 1085

Question 8

The context of the Domesday Book was a fear of Viking invasion. Why might have William wanted to carry out the survey?

Answer 8

It is possible that William was preparing for war by finding out how many knights might be available and what his current debts were.

Question 9

How many people in Norman England owned all of the land in England?

Answer 9

250

Question 10

What does Domesday tell us about life in Norman England? (6)

Answer 10

• They were 2000 knights in England.
• There were around 10,000 Norman settlers in total.
• It tells us who owned the land.
• The extent to which William had replaced Anglo-Saxon earls and landlords with Norman ones.
• How landholding has changed between the rule of King Edward and the rule of King William.
• The total population of England was between 1.5 and 2 million people.

Question 11

What % of English people were slaves according to the Domesday Book?

Answer 11

10%