Transformation of Society under the Normans

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Created by: rockboy3080
Created on: 31-01-18 19:25

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Transformation of Society under the Normans
- Law and Order
  - Continuity: William retained the ordeals of fire and water as a trial system
  - Change: William added Trial by Combat, Ecclesiastical courts are created
- Economy
  - Changes: Later in his reign, William announced a tax on towns where a Norman was murdered, called the murdrum fine, and towns grew and appeared over England
  - Continuity: The anglo saxon taxation system mainly remained the same in order to keep resistance low
- Landscape of England
  - Change: There was an increase in castles, putting them close to the towns and retaining order, Cathedrals were used to remind English they were conquered
  - Continuity:
- Towns
  - Changes: Later in his reign, William announced a tax on towns where a Norman was murdered, called the murdrum fine, and towns grew and appeared over England
  - Continuity: promoted development of towns, and saw a increase in them, also saw changes in what earldom towns fell into
- The Church
  - Change: Normans started to dominate the high up positions
  - Continuity: Anglo-Saxons dominated many of the lower down positions in the church
- Feudal System
  - Change:established a tiered class system, that allowed William to let bigger earldom's dissolve into smaller ones
  - Continuity: William continues using the fyrd system to quell rebellions
- Courts and Administration
  - Change: William created a position for the chancellor
  - Continuity: William maintained the Chancery
- Life in villages
  - Change: Forest laws and murdrum introduced, and some villages moved into different earldoms because of boundary changes
  - Continuity: Normans retain a system similar to the Feudal system
- Anglo-Saxon Earldoms
  - Continuity: Earls like Edwin and Morcar were kept on in their positions initially to make sure that society was calm
  - Change: Saxon earldoms were not filled when the owner of it died, William pushed for more Earldoms in order to weaken the power they had over him. By 1076, only Thurkill and Colswein held land from the king
- Kingship
  - Change: After 1077, William was out of the country and in Normandy for 130 out of 170 months. Power became more centralised, Oath of Allegiance at Salisbury
  - Continuity: Eldest son would still inherit the throne, hence anger that Robert didn't get the throne. Power continued to be in the kings hand to be the law maker