3.17 The Domesday Book/Survey

Question 1

What are the main theories about the purpose of the Domesday Book?

Answer 1

• “Tax book” => find out how much people owned so they could be taxed in order to bribe Vikings into preventing war.
• To inform William of the best way to raise taxes.
• So a formal written record of England at time of intro to N feudal system could be created.

Question 2

What did the Domesday Book allow William to do? (4)

Answer 2

• Ensure he got as much money as possible from taxes.
• Ensure feudal lords weren’t withholding money (could make them a threat to his power).
• Legalise and record arguments over ownership of land.
• Provides valuable evidence of how life changed under Normans.

Question 3

What % of land did William and his family own?

Answer 3

20%

Question 4

What % of land did Church own?

Answer 4

25%

Question 5

How was remaining land divided? (3)

Answer 5

• 10 members of Norman aristocracy held further 25%
• Remaining 30% held by 170 people.
• Land therefore controlled by around 250 people => similar to Edward the Confessor.

Question 6

What does the Ely Inquiry show? (2)

Answer 6

• Questions asked in Domesday Survey
• States the sheriff, local baron, priest and villagers had to swear an oath to answer questions honestly.

Question 7

What were the 7 questions asked in the Domesday Survey?

Answer 7

• Who held the land at the end of King EC’s reign?
• Who holds land in 1086?
• How many hides are there?
• How many ploughs are there?
• How many villagers are there?
• How many mills, fishponds and meadows are there?
• How many animals are there?

Question 8

When was the Domesday Survey suggested and carried out?

Answer 8

Suggested 1085, carried out 1086.

Question 9

When was the Domesday survey written into book?

Answer 9

During reign of William II.

Question 10

When was the term ‘Domesday Book’ used? Why?

Answer 10

Used in 12th century because by then the legal authority of the Survey was seen as being equal to that of God’s authority on Judgement day.

Question 11

What does the Domesday tell us about life in England? (4)

Answer 11

• Population as a whole.
• Wealth of the population.
• Estimated value of land under Ec and W.
• How land holding changed.

Question 12

What specific facts did the Domesday tell us about life in England?

Answer 12

In 1086;
* 2000 knights
* 10,000 Norman settlers
* Population between 1.5 - 2 million.

Question 13

Which areas were left out of the survey?

Answer 13

London and Winchester.