Norman rule

Question 1

Describe the Domesday book

Answer 1

• The Domesday Book was a complete written record of property ownership across England, and was completed in less than a year.
• To record the transfer and possession of land, there were many changes and a record of these changes was needed to keep track.
• To record the value of each estate.
• To introduce a new system of taxation on each estate that allowed the king to raise more money from landholders quickly.

Question 2

Describe the law and order

Answer 2

• There were many changes to law and order
• A guilty person was now expected to pay a fine to the court + king instead of to the family as compensation.
• Trials could be decided by combat.
• In Anglo-Saxon times it was common for land to be shared between a number of children, this meant that land would stay in the hands of fewer people.
• The introduction of the feudal system also changed how England was defended. All land was technically owned by the king and anyone that was given land by the king had to pay taxes and provide men for military.
• Most of these changes were gradual and were not hugely different from Anglo-Saxon times

Question 3

Describe the village life

Answer 3

• The king and the church dominated people’s lives.
• Villeins worked hardest during the harvest, as they would have to work on their own small pieces of land as well as working on their lord’s.
• Both men and women worked in the fields during this time of year.
• The typical diet was bread and ale as most villeins could not afford to eat meat.