The Norman Legacy in England

3. What did the Norman bring to England?

The consequences of the Norman Conquest were many and varied. Further, some effects were much longer-lasting than others. Still, the following list which summarizes what most historians agree on as some of the most important changes the Norman Conquest brought in England:

• Norman landlords took place of the majority of Anglo-Saxon landowning elite.
• Power and wealth were held by a minority.
• Even bishops were replaced with Norman ones and many archdioceses’ headquarters were relocated to other cities.
• The Feudal system was introduced to England and developed as William gave out lands in return for military service (either in person or a force of knights paid for by the landowner).
• The rise of Manors and Manorialism
• William took control of North England by force leading to severe damages circa 1069-70 CE.
• The reduction of Domesday Book which was” a detailed and systematic catalogue of the land and wealth in England was compiled in 1086-7 CE”.
• Foreign affairs and trade between England and Europe greatly increased.
• France and England became historically intertwined, initially due to the crossover of land ownership, i.e. “Norman nobles holding lands in both countries” Fiefs and families.
• The French language was used as a prestigious court language which led to a significant change in the syntax and vocabulary of the Anglo-Saxon Germanic language.
• They built Abbeys and Cathedrals. It is thanks to the Normans that the Architecture of castles had developed.