The Norman Conquest

• William the Conqueror was so cruel, till 1070, he

ordered villages to be destroyed and people to be
killed. Herds of animals and crops were burnt. Most
people who survived starved to death; there were
even stories of people turning to cannibalism.
William did not care if they had rebelled or not.
• Not only was the population reduced by 75% but
land was salted (poisoned) to prevent people
growing crops in the future. This is called the
Harrying of the North.
The most important changes the Norman conquest brought in England:
• the Anglo-Saxon landowning elite was almost totally replaced by Normans.
• the ruling apparatus was made much more centralised with power and wealth being held in much
fewer hands.
• the majority of Anglo-Saxon bishops were replaced with Norman ones
• Norman motte and bailey castles were introduced which reshaped warfare in England.
• manorialism developed and spread further where labourers worked on their lord's estate for his
benefit.
• the north of England was devastated for a long time following William's harrying of 1069-70 CE.
• the two countries of France and England became historically intertwined, initially due to the
crossover of land ownership, i.e. Norman nobles holding lands in both countries.
• the syntax and vocabulary of the Anglo-Saxon Germanic language were significantly influenced by
the French language.
• Domesday Book, a detailed and systematic catalogue of the land and wealth in England was
compiled in 1086-7 CE.
• the contact and especially trade between England and Continental Europe greatly increased.
• the system of feudalism developed as William gave out lands in return for military services.