Domesday Book Flashcards
What was the Domesday Book?
The Domesday Book was a survey of England that William commissioned at the end of 1085. It aimed to find out how much was owned by each landholder, and whether they could pay more tax.
What was in the Domesday Book?
The Domesday Book was a record of what each landholder owned in each area of England.
How big was the domesday book?
It was 913 pages long and recorded details of about 1,000 tenants-in-chief and 8,000 under-tenants.
Why was it called the domesday book?
It was later called the Domesday Book because the comprehensive information it gathered made people feel as if they had reached the Day of Judgement (‘Doomsday’).
What language was the domesday book written in?
Latin
What was the financial significance of the Domesday Book?
The Domesday Book allowed the king and his clerks to see how much money in tax, or relief payments, were owed on each estate.
What was the legal significance of the Domesday Book?
The Domesday Book was a way of sorting out legal disputes, especially for Anglo-Saxons who claimed to have lost land in land-grabs.
What was the military significance of the Domesday Book?
The Domesday Book allowed William to see how many soldiers were available if they were needed, for example in response to the Viking threat of 1085.
