Starter quiz
- Which keyword describes an examination of specific details, opinions, behaviour, etc. and is made by asking people questions?
- 'survey' ✓
- Which keyword is the name of a tax traditionally used to defend England against (Viking) invasions?
- 'geld' ✓
- Which of these were questions *not* asked by the commissioners of the Great Survey?
- How many knights does the land support? ✓
- How much is the land worth now (in 1085-6)?
- Who owned the manor in the time of Edward the Confessor?
- How many tractors do you own to farm the land? ✓
- How many hides of land are there?
-
- Complete the sentence: The Great Survey was compiled in 1086, and the two volumes of records became known as Book.
- 'Domesday' ✓
- How long did it take for the Great Survey to be completed?
- around six days
- around six months ✓
- around six years
-
- How can historians use the Great Survey to assess the growth in the economy of towns under Norman rule?
- The Normans found out the value of the land in 1090 and in 1070.
- The Normans found out the value of the land in 1080 and in 1060.
- The Normans found out the value of the land in 1085 and in 1066. ✓
-
Exit quiz
- Which keyword describes a lower court that dealt with local disputes and minor criminal cases?
- 'hundred court' ✓
- Which keyword describes the king’s officer at the shire level?
- 'sheriff' ✓
- When did the shire court meet?
- twice a year, at Easter and at Christmas
- twice a year, at Easter and at Michaelmas ✓
- twice a year, at Easter and at Halloween
-
- Why was William's appointment of royal justices important?
- reduced differences between regions as they followed the same legal principles ✓
- increased differences between regions as they followed different legal principle
- reinforced William as a legitimate monarch who would dispense justice ✓
- reinforced William as a legitimate monarch who would dispense money
-
- Complete the sentence: Normans and Anglo-Saxons were treated ______ by the justice system.
- differently ✓
- the same
- almost the same
-
- When guilt or innocence could not be established by a regular trial, both Anglo-Saxon and Norman courts often used what type of trial as a way of proving guilt or innocence?
- trial by battle
- trial by ordeal ✓
- trial by peers
-
Worksheet
Loading worksheet ...
Presentation
Loading presentation ...
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- The Normans made relatively few changes to the English legal system.
- Hundred courts and shire courts remained, but Normans took over as sheriffs and the role increased in power.
- Norman England had more central control over the legal system than had been the case in Anglo-Saxon England.
- The Normans introduced the murdrum fine and criminalised the use of resources from royal forests.
- Normans and Anglo-Saxons were treated differently by the justice system.
Common misconception
Trial by combat and trial by ordeal were punishments for crimes.
Trial by combat and trial by ordeal were ways of finding out who God judged as being innocent and guilty, though the ordeal was certainly punishing for both parties.
Keywords
Justice - justice is the principles behind laws, including who benefits from the legal system; a justice was also another name for a judge
Hundred court - a hundred court is a lower court that dealt with local disputes and minor criminal cases
Shire court - a shire court is a court at the shire level which dealt with more serious criminal cases and land disputes
Sheriff - a sheriff is the king’s officer at the shire level
+