Life Under Normans

Question 1

What were the differences between the feudal system before 1066 and after?

Answer 1

• barons and bishops added
• 6 earls to 200 barons
• slavery declined as church disagreed
• knights added: 40 days service
• Norman’s replaced the Anglo Saxons as landowners

Question 2

What was bad about having 6 earldoms before 1066?

Answer 2

They would each have immense power and if disagreements arose they could work in order to overthrow the king.

Question 3

What was the role of the peasants in the feudal system?

Answer 3

• grow crops and give to lord
• work the lord’s land
• give loyalty to lords

Question 4

How much land did the king and church own?

Answer 4

King: 20%
Church: 25%

Question 5

Why were knights important?

Answer 5

Promised loyalty + yearly knight service in exchange for land

Question 6

Why was the feudal system during Norman’s effective?

Answer 6

The king could take and give land according to how well people were towards him

Question 7

Gov: what was the regency?

Answer 7

Trusted people left in charge of the country

Question 8

Gov: what was the chancery?

Answer 8

Kept documents for who held land, keep and record royal documents

Question 9

Gov: who were the exchequer?

Answer 9

Dealt with king’s finances and the collection of tax

Question 10

Gov: who were the curias Regis?

Answer 10

Replaced the witan. King’s advisors

Question 11

What was the government by writ?

Answer 11

Written document containing direct order. The Norman’s introduced local gov. to make sure it was followed

Question 12

Local Gov: what were shires?

Answer 12

Shires split into hundreds. Sheriff acted as the king’s deputy 
Duties: 
•making payments to king 
• court 
• collect tax 
• raise army

Question 13

What were Castellans?

Answer 13

Sheriff in areas ruled by castles

Question 14

What was the murdrum fine?

Answer 14

Fine on community it murderer of a Norman was not found

Question 15

What was the honrial court?

Answer 15

Tenants could appeal against landlord

Question 16

Why did courts improve in Norman time?

Answer 16

They introduced more courts so cases could all be effectively targeted and solved faster

Question 17

What is primogeniture?

Answer 17

The eldest inherits all the land

Question 18

What was the forest law?

Answer 18

Anyone caught hunting in the king’s forest could be fined or executed
(Norman time)

Question 19

What was the domesday book? How done?

Answer 19

Record ownership of land. Commissioners sent all over England to survey who owns what

Question 20

What was learnt from the Domesday book?

Answer 20

• not all parts were equally wealthy
• wastelands: the north
• much of the country is well off
• tax payed unfairly

Question 21

Why did William commission the Domesday Book?

Answer 21

• see how much he can raise in tax
• see what everything is worth (assess his country)
• Norman’s had legal ownership of land, settled land disputes
• army + resources in case of attacks
• reverse low tax on trusted

Question 22

What was the open field system and how was it divided?

Answer 22

• strips of the field divided so everyone got land
• 2 fields: grow crops
• fallow: left empty to regain nutrients

Question 23

What was the Manor House?

Answer 23

Where the lord lived in a village

Question 24

Why is woodland important in a village?

Answer 24

• wood for fire, building houses

* hunt meat: restricted due to forest laws

Question 25

What was kept in a pasture?

Answer 25

Sheep

Question 26

Why are rivers important in a village

Answer 26

• drinking water + fish

* powered the mill

Question 27

Why was the mill significant?

Answer 27

It was owned by the lord, the villagers would pay him to grind their wheat into flour. Making bread

Question 28

What was trade like in towns?

Answer 28

• wool and salt

* coastal towns grew as centres of international trade e.g sandwich

Question 29

What are guilds?

Answer 29

Associations for craftsmen, weavers, butchers etc.

Made more money

Question 30

How many towns were there in Norman times?

Answer 30

18

Question 31

Why were markets and fairs important in towns?

Answer 31

• needed a franchise (authorisation) to be opened
• celebrated religious events
• made money for church, entertainers and traders