Normans Revision: Topic 2 of 3 - PowerPoint Presentation

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Normans Revision:

Topic 2 of 3Slide2

Feudalism and Government: What changes did the Normans make to England?

Topic Summary

The feudal system gave the king more power and allowed him to rule the country with very few Normans.

The king’s ownership of land gave him huge powers of patronage.

The use of the Oath of Fealty along with the granting of land helped the Norman kings establish control.

Most land and key positions (such as tenants-in-chief and sheriffs) were transferred from Anglo-Saxon to Norman hands.Many aspects of government and the legal system remained the same, or similar to Anglo-Saxon times.The arrangements for military service became more formal.The Domesday Survey allowed the Normans to raise taxes efficiently.Domesday also provided an authoritative account of who held the lands after the Norman Conquest.

Similarities between Norman and Anglo-Saxon EnglandDifferences between Norman and Anglo-Saxon EnglandLand OwnershipThe King and the Church owned most of the landPeasants working on the land still had to pay their lord a tax of their produce.After 1066 barons were not allowed to dominate huge areas of the kingdom. They also swore fealty to the King.Earls were replaced with a greater number of Bishops and Barons.By 1086 only four English Thengs held landWilliam only gave large areas of land to his ‘Marcher Lords’.Military ServiceThengs and Knights both promised to provide military service to the King.Each tenant-in-chief (Knight, Baron) provided soldiers for William’s army.Local areas still provided troops for the army (Fyrd)Knights made an oath to their lord – this did not happen in Saxon times as it was seen as a ‘religious duty’.Knights always had to carry out military service for at least 40 days of the year.Marcher Lords on borders with Wales – became almost independent rulers with the task of defending against raids from Wales.Consulting AdvisorsThe Norman Kings continued to listen to and take advice from their leading subjects through the Great Council (Curia Regis)Only the king could make laws for the whole kingdomThe Chancery provided the administration for the government.The knights of the royal household provided security.InheritanceFeudal Incidents: if a tenant died without an heir the land would be returned to the lord who could sell it off. As the king owned most of the land, he profited from this.Property was passed on to the eldest son – Primogeniture. This meant Normans could keep large estates of land therefore maintaining power.Government by WritMain issue of government was to issue an order in writing (writ).The Normans issued more writs than the Saxons did.The King’s writs centralised the power and took it away from barons and bishops.Local GovernmentEngland remained split into 134 shires with a sheriff in charge of each shire. Duties included making annual payments to the king, collecting taxes and raising armies.Saxon sheriffs were replaced by Normans because loyal sheriffs were vital to maintain control over the kingdom.Castellans” – looked after the royal castles and forests.Legal SystemMaintained most Saxon features as it worked well and it helped prove that the Normans were legitimate rulers.The King’s Court remained the most important Court.Shire & Hundred Court’s remained the sameThe Normans simplified the system and made it more consistent.The Lords Court was created by Normans for the Lord to deal with his tenants.Law EnforcementConstables, Watchmen attempted to ensure all kept to the curfew. However they were old and poorly paid.Hue and Cry: All had a duty to catch a suspect when alarm was raised.Murdrum Fine: If a Norman was killed and their murderer was not found within five days the local community would be fined.TrialsOaths – to ensure people told the truth they first had to swear an oath on a holy book or relic.Trial by Cold Water: Holy water, if you float you are guilty as the water would repel a sinner.Trial by Hot Iron: Hand burnt and wrapped for three days. If the wound was infected the person was guilty.Trial by Battle: Introduced for serious offences. Two men duel against each other and the belief was God would support the innocent. If the accused was rich they could pay for a champion to fight in their place.

The Domesday Survey

Survey of all property and resources in England.

Completed due to threat of Viking invasion in 1085.

Completed in 1086

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the most important tenants were made to swear loyalty to the King.

Enabled William to know how much he could tax people and who would be legible to fight in his army.Slide3

How did the Norman Conquest affect towns and villages?

Topic Summary

Peasants had the hardest lives of all and many lacked any real freedom. They farmed to survive and many made little profit.

Some peasants moved to the towns to find better jobs. Others were trying to break free from the ties of the countryside.

The rich had a far more varied diet than the poor, although it was less healthy. The poor ate healthy food but were vulnerable to shortages.

Many towns grew in size and importance under the Normans.Villages

A peasant’s homeSerfs: not allowed to leave the village without permission from their Lord.Lived in simple homes which were cold, damp and darkUsually only one room with a small windowWalls made out of wattle & daubThatched roofs which could easily be destroyed by fireManorsManor house, barns, churches, villager’s houses, grazing land and millsFreedmen: lived around the manor but had to pay rent and work for the lord during sowing and harvest timeHouses made from stoneHad to obey the lord’s rulesOpen field systemThe strips of land were not separated from each otherNo fences, walls or hedges25-35% of land was kept for the LordThe rest was divided between the peasantsGeneral InformationThe main crops were wheat, oats, barley & ryeLand farmed in strips as it was easier for the oxen to pull the plough throughCentre of the village was a church made of stoneShows the importance of religionGeneral InformationMost peasant’s lives depended upon the seasons and farming – late Spring was the hardest time of year as supplies were running out.Jobs of peasants – (most) farmers, (some) millers & brewers.Food: during the day a light of rye bread (dry hard bread). Evening meal – mostly vegetables they grew themselves. Drink: homemade beer or cider.Meat was rarely eaten by peasants as it was expensive, so too were sugar and fruit.Thengs and Lords ate meat and fish on a daily basis.Features of a Norman TownMixture of residential and commercial properties.Churches and religious housesHouses were built close together and often the buildings were larger above the ground because land in the towns was expensive.A high street was the main road through the town leading to the gates. This road would have been wider than the rest.Overcrowding led to overflowing waste and an increased risk of disease, house fires and theft.Why did Norman towns grow?Trading centres in livestock, fish, salt and wool.Towns attracted people who wanted to set up shops and businesses.Most towns were protected by high walls, gates or moats.The gates were guarded and locked at night.People moved from the countryside to learn a trade or work as a servant.How did the Normans change Nottingham?A new Norman lord to rule over the town.A Norman church was built in the Romanesque style in the Norman borough – ‘St Peter’s Church’A wooden castle was built in 1067-68 and controlled by the Norman Lord.New markets were created: weekday markets in the ’late-Saxon borough’ and Saturday markets in the Norman borough.New boroughs created from the influx of Norman and Saxons to the town.Medieval Jobs in townsBlacksmith: skilled craftsmen and highly valued. Made a variety of objects including tools, rivets, nails locks, horseshoes weapons and armour. Many made a very good living in towns.Moneylenders: Christians were not allowed to lend money so Jews came from Europe to do this work. This made them very unpopular.Barbers: cut hair, extracted teeth and amputated limbs. The sign for a barber’s shop was a red and white striped pole.Bakers: bread was the main food in medieval times. There were strict laws on pricing and portion sizes of bread. Peasants were allowed to use baker’s ovens to bake their own bread.Armourers: a very skilled role where people made chainmail armour to fit each individual who requested it.Apothecaries: sold remedies made from herbs and plants.Towns

Hierarchy in Norman Towns

Top

: Lawyers, doctors and property owners

Middle

: Craftsmen (only when they became a ‘master’ of their trade)

Bottom

: Unskilled workers and servants

Similarities between life in towns and villages:

Differences between life in towns and villages: