ANGLO-NORMAN ENGLAND

CHANGE AND CONTINUITY

THE ECONOMY Be aware of pre-existing economic trends Expanding economies and populations Towns,markets,trade and use of money

all growing NORMAN CONQUEST HAD A SHORT TERM

NEGATIVE IMPACT as revealed by Domesday

100s of towns ‘wasted’

BOUNCE BACK Quick recovery England fits into general European trend Having devastated the economy, the

Normans helped rebuild it 21 new towns between 1066 and 1100 Another 19 before 1130 Norman building projects such as

Cathedrals Squeezing the peasants ( led to increase

in productivity)

CLASS RELATIONS Impact on Commoners varied – initial

plunder, forest laws, etc Increased rents and build up of demesnes Standing of freemen and sokemen

declined However, hastened demise of

slaveholding. 25% decline in Essex noted in Domesday

But, hardening of line between free peasant and villani (villeins)

TOWN DWELLERS Treated reasonably well ( London

guaranteed traditional rights) New French immigrants French influence (mayors etc) Introduction of Jewish community MARKED CHANGE IN THE SOCIAL AND

LEGAL STRUCTURE BY NORMANS DESPITE LIMITED ECONOMIC IMPACT

THE ARISTOCRACY Shift toward primogeniture Shift from aristocratic clans to lineages

(adoption of surnames – Golden Testicles) Opened England to the developing ethos

of chivalry CHANGES IN ARISTOCRATIC SOCIETY

IMPORTANT BECAUSE, DESPITE BEING A SMALL MINORITY, SO MUCH POWER AND INFLUENCE WAS HELD IN THEIR HANDS

Religion and the Church Church was source of power through its

lands and influence Normans replaced Church leadership with

foreigners Lesser figures left in place (little military

threat) The Church was a conduit for foreign

influence but also bastion of English culture!

Institution in which Saxon and Norman culture intermingled

Church Wealth Normans seized land and wealth of

church Abingdon’s loss of 9,600 silver coins

worth of assets Stripping of statues at Ely Waltham Abbey stripped of 10,000 marks

worth of treasure Church officials forced to melt down

items to meet Norman taxes and demands

Robbing Peter to pay Paul English Church robbed to enrich Norman

ones Military quotas placed on religious houses In 1086 20% of church’s land held by

laity CHURCH LANDS HELD BY KNIGHTS SOON

BECAME PERMANENT AND HEREDITARY TENURES thus reducing ecclesiastical control.

CONCLUSION TO BE DRAWN NORMAN CONQUEST DIMINISHED

ECCLESIASTICAL WEALTH AND LANDHOLDING BOTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY

NORMANS AS PATRONS Saw Church as guide on path to Heaven Patronage initially went to religious

houses in France (£1000 per annum from England’s wealth of £72,000)

However, migrants and Normans patronised the Church in England from the beginning

Norman generosity soon compensated for losses!

Normans as Reformers William appointed reformer to head

church Lanfranc England brought into line with reform

movement Norman leaders eventually began to

resist reforming papacy Note William’s demand that bishops and

abbots swear fealty for their lands

ORGANISATIONAL REFORM Advanced development of Church Courts Promoted role of Archdeacon Bishoprics moved from rural to urban

settings Introduction of Cluniac order Changes to liturgy Abandonment of English as a language of

religious writing Promotion of Latin