Normans - Life under the Normans

Question 1

Who was top of the Feudal System under the Normans?

Answer 1

The King

Question 2

How many barons and bishops did William grant land to?

Answer 2

200 barons and bishops

Question 3

What did William expect in return for granting land?

Answer 3

Loyalty - oath of fealty

Question 4

What happened if a baron or bishop did not provide loyalty?

Answer 4

They would lose their land

Question 5

How was the land ownership under the Normans different from Anglo-Saxon kings?

Answer 5

Anglo-Saxon kings only owned some land; rest owned by powerful earls

Question 6

How much land did the Church own under the Normans?

Answer 6

25%

Question 7

What percentage of the population did slaves make up in 1086?

Answer 7

10%

Question 8

What was a significant change regarding the number of slaves under the Normans?

Answer 8

Number of slaves had reduced

Question 9

What were two other ways the Feudal System changed under the Normans?

Answer 9

• 4000 English thegns were replaced by knights
• Knights had to commit to 40 days military service per year

Question 10

What was the Act of Homage?

Answer 10

A ceremony where a vassal pledged loyalty to a lord

Question 11

What was the Oath of Fealty?

Answer 11

A promise to be faithful to the lord and serve him

Question 12

What were Marcher Lords?

Answer 12

Rulers installed to stop raids by the Welsh

Question 13

Give an example of a Marcher Lord.

Answer 13

Earl of Chester: Hugh D’Avranches

Question 14

What dates did William Rufus invade Wales and take control temporarily?

Answer 14

1095 and 1097

Question 15

When did William I try to invade Scotland?

Answer 15

1072

Question 16

State three things that made Medieval Kings powerful.

Answer 16

• The king was the only one who could make laws for the whole country
• The king was the only one who could raise a national tax
• Serious legal cases were only by the king or in the King’s court

Question 17

How did the Normans change the laws of inheritance?

Answer 17

Only eldest son inherited

Question 18

What was this system of inheritance known as?

Answer 18

Primogeniture

Question 19

What was patronage?

Answer 19

System of granting land/offices in return for loyalty

Question 20

What was a writ?

Answer 20

Written government order

Question 21

What did the Normans do with the system of writs, and why?

Answer 21

Continued it; showed continuity with Edward’s rule and legitimacy

Question 22

What had the Anglo-Saxons split England into?

Answer 22

134 Shires

Question 23

Who was in charge of each of these bits of land?

Answer 23

Shire-reeve

Question 24

What did the Normans do with this system?

Answer 24

Kept it but gradually replaced all Anglo-Saxon sheriffs by Normans

Question 25

How did the Normans change the legal system?

Answer 25

Made it more consistent

Question 26

How was law enforced in Norman times?

Answer 26

Constables, Watchmen, Hue and cry

Question 27

Give an example of a trial by ordeal.

Answer 27

Trial by fire/water

Question 28

What trial was introduced by the Normans?

Answer 28

Trial by battle

Question 29

Give an example of an Anglo-Saxon method of law enforcement continued by the Normans.

Answer 29

Tithing. Group of 10-12 freemen who promised to prevent each other from committing a crime

Question 30

What did the tithing involve?

Answer 30

If they did, they had to reveal the guilty one or the whole group punished, usually fined

Question 31

Why did the Normans introduce Murdrum fines?

Answer 31

Reduced violent acts against Normans, provided income for the king, sent a message to Anglo-Saxons about the importance of Normans

Question 32

What did William carry out in 1085?

Answer 32

Domesday Survey

Question 33

Why did William carry out the Domesday Survey?

Answer 33

Faced another invasion so needed money

Question 34

What percentage of the population lived in a town in 1086?

Answer 34

5%

Question 35

How many towns were there in 1086 with a population of more than 2000?

Answer 35

18

Question 36

What changes did the Normans make to towns, such as Nottingham?

Answer 36

Towns grew as trade increased, developed around newly built castles and abbeys

Question 37

Give an example of an immediate economic impact of the invasion.

Answer 37

Taxes increased

Question 38

Give an example of a long term consequence of the Norman invasion.

Answer 38

Increased security, More European outlook, Jewish moneylenders introduced by William

Question 39

How much did the working life of a peasant change as a result of the Conquest?

Answer 39

Very little

Question 40

What were citizens of towns called?

Answer 40

Burgesses

Question 41

What could a town apply for to become independent of the lord?

Answer 41

A charter

Question 42

What was a guild?

Answer 42

A society of merchants which controlled who was allowed to carry out business

Question 43

What was an apprentice?

Answer 43

Teenage boy who signed up to work with a master for 7 years

Question 44

How might a villein become a freeman?

Answer 44

If he managed to live in a town for a year and a day