The Normans (1066 A.D. – 1300 A.D.)

4. The Normans (1066 A.D. – 1300 A.D.) Vorlesung Describe the impact of the Norman Conquest on the British Isles, with special reference to the way the Normans secured their power. - - - - Victory of the Normans in 1066 brought fundamental changes to the BI o Removed England from the Scandinavian influence o Viking importance becomes less (almost invisible) A political union with only one Anglo-Norman aristocracy was forming o William was King of England AND Duke of Normandy -> created conflicts/tension o England was like a Norman colony Colonial character of society o Loyalty to the King o Owners of Land change (exchange of Anglo-Saxon elite Two class society o Almost no mixing between Anglo-Saxons and Normans Rise of Feudalism o William had almost complete control over England The Domesday Book, 1086  List of all property in England  Basic outline of English economy o King had to spread the wealth and still magnify his power while gaining loyalty Building of castles o Showed the realities of local Norman power o Nearly one thousand castles in England Church o Local, hereditary priesthood replaced by celibate clergy o Monastic order o Normans rebuild the churches after their destruction in a Norman way, also new religious houses were built o Catholic Christianity remained Towns o New towns and boroughs were established o Towns mean money: markets in towns (rulers can control the economy) o - - - 9 Kommentiert [JK1]: lokale, erbliche Priesterschaft ersetzt durch einen zölibatären Klerus (Geistliche) - The Norman Empire - Education o Institutions of education developed because empire got bigger and therefore more educated people were needed  Oxford and Cambridge established by 1220 o Flowering of Literature (Genre: Romance) Conquest of Wales and Ireland (easy for Normans to gain control because of no union between England and Wales, Ireland, and Scotland Magna Carta o 1215: King John was forced to sign o Documented the share of power (King can’t rule alone) o Gave certain rights to the noblemen o Starting point of modern democracy o Symbol of liberty o 13th Century: first beginning of parliament (assembly of the barons) - What happened to the English language? - Mixing of Anglo-Saxon English and Norman French o English speaking people (Anglo-Saxons) o French loan words o French-speaking Elite  Middle English What is meant by the “Norman Yoke”? - - Complex debate under historians if the Norman conquest was good or bad for the British Isles Positive opinion: o England got modernised o Closer Connection to Europe Negative Opinion: “Norman Yoke” o Oppressing, exploiting impact of Feudalism o Destruction of English tradition o Decrease in democracy 10