England Under The Normans

What system of government did William organize in England after his conquest?

The feudal system, which had been successful in Normandy.

What was the feudal system based on?

Ownership of land.

How did William distribute land in England?

He took land from English owners and gave it to Norman lords, bishops, and abbey leaders.

Who received land from the lords after the conquest?

The 5,000 knights who had fought at Hastings.

What did knights have to give their lords in return for land?

Loyalty and 40 days of military service each year.

What did the lords owe to the king?

Loyalty and knights for the king’s service.

What was the land of a knight called?

A manor.

Who were the serfs and what was their role?

Common people tied to the knight’s manor; they served as farm workers, not soldiers.

Could the king call serfs to fight?

Yes, the king could call them to fight.

Who were the freemen?

A small class of people who did not serve knights or work on their farms.

How is feudalism often represented?

As a pyramid: the king at the top, lords and knights below, and peasants/serfs at the base.

What was one characteristic of feudalism regarding rights and responsibilities?

Responsibilities worked two ways—up and down the social hierarchy.

How did William control the power of his lords?

He gave them small, scattered pieces of land instead of large areas.

Who fixed the amount of taxes for each county?

The king.

Who divided the tax among the manors?

The sheriff.

Who collected taxes from the people of the manor?

The manor’s owner.

Who was the sheriff?

The king’s representative in each county.