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ANGLO-NORMAN ENGLAND

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’.

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ANGLO-NORMAN ENGLAND

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  1. ANGLO-NORMAN ENGLAND CHANGE AND CONTINUITY

  2. 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’

  3. 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)

  4. 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)

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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.

  10. CONCLUSION TO BE DRAWN • NORMAN CONQUEST DIMINISHED ECCLESIASTICAL WEALTH AND LANDHOLDING BOTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY

  11. 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!

  12. 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

  13. 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

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