Course Content
Private: The Norman Conquest, 1066

Landowners

The Domesday Book recorded land ownership throughout much of England.

This allowed William to see exactly who controlled different areas.

It also showed how much land had passed from English to Norman hands.

People

The survey recorded different groups of people, including:

  • Villagers
  • Smallholders
  • Slaves
  • Priests

Although not every person was listed individually, the survey provides a picture of England’s population.

Farming

Most people in Norman England were farmers.

The Domesday Book recorded:

  • Fields
  • Meadows
  • Woodland
  • Mills
  • Fisheries

This helped show how productive different areas were.

Wealth

The survey estimated how much wealth each manor produced.

This helped William decide how much tax could be collected.

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