Domesday Book Flashcards
What is Domesday Book?
Who ordered it?
Record of everything people owned and did in England
William the Conqueror
Why did William the Conqueror order the Domesday Book?
To see how much tax he could get
To get an idea of territory he had conquered
What did Domesday book record?
Who owns the land The size of land owned How much of the land being used How much farmland/woodland/fishpond Number of workers on the land Number of animals Number of buildings Use of buildings
Did Domesday Book cover whole of England?
What counties were not included?
Why?
NO
Left out Northumbria, Cumbria and NW England
Because it was not completely under Norman control
What about London and Winchester?
Not found in the book but data probably lost and not missed
Why was Domesday Book done?
Wanted to know more about the country he had just conquered
Threats to England from Norway, Denmark and Scotland
William needed money to defend the country
He needed to figure out how much tax government could get from the population to fund army
He may have done it to show his rights as ‘lord’ overall
How was Domesday Book done?
Survey conducted through a list of all landowners
They had to submit information regarding their holding
Information was compiled into the book
Groups of officials travelled to different parts of England for more info if needed
It was possible because of excellent administration set up by Anglo-Saxons
Administration was kept in by William
Why is it called Domesday Book?
Was not called that to start with
Given the name, as it was likened to final day of judgement in the Christian religion
Why is the Domesday Book important?
Gives us information on Norman England
Shows how country changed over 20yrs after invasion
Shows Normans, 250 of them controlling whole country, v few anglosaxons still in place
William granted most of the land to Normans
Population - 1.5 million recorded
v few women mentioned
Over 13,000 towns mentioned, some exist today
Mentions how society was organised
Mentions some occupations - beekeepers, vine growers, jester
