Domesday book was ordered by william the conqueror william i in 1085. That makes it englands earliest bureaucratic instrument. Domesday book is the most complete survey of a preindustrial society anywhere in the world. Domesday book 1086 the middle ages encompass one of the most exciting periods in english history. The first volume great domesday contains the final summarized record of all the counties surveyed except essex, norfolk, and suffolk.
Horrible histories measly middle ages new census for the domesday book william the conqueror fun. The domesday book is actually not one book but two. In 1086, king william i the conqueror wanted to find out about all the land in his new kingdom. Learn and revise what the feudal system was and how society was broken up into it with bbc bitesize ks3 history. The domesday book online contents of the domesday book.
Horrible histories measly middle ages new census for the. This lesson could be used for history at key stage 3, within the development of church, state and society in medieval britain 10661509. Domesday quotes quotes about domesday yourdictionary. How did castle design change during williams reign. At over 900 years old, domesday is the earliest surviving public record and the foundation document of the national archives. The national archives education service domesday book. At the time it was called the winchester book, but later became better.
It is the earliest english document preserved by the government that created it. Recreate the survey carried out in 1086 for the domesday book. Click on a county name on the map to continue, or use the list of links below it. Why it was written and what was involved in making it. He wrote this account of the domesday survey in about 1125. This short three minute video covers what the domesday book is. Domesday book is one of the most famous documents in english historyand arguably in world history. Powerpoint presentation on the domesday book as part of the way in which william the conqueror gained control of england after the battle of hastings. Here are some facts about domesday book, the great norman survey of the wealth of england. For historians of anglonorman england, the survey is of immeasurable importance. It can be incorporated in to a lesson on the domesday book as an opportunity for pupils to see how it may have worked in practice.
Old pedigreemakers from the 14th century onward have made of harding a younger son of a king of denmark and a companion of the conqueror, while modern historians assert his identity with one harding who, although an english thane, is recorded by domesday book in 1086 as a great landowner in somerse. To see full names of counties hold your mouse over the name. It is also the starting point for most local historians researching the history of their area. Domesday book, compiled in 1086 at the behest of william the conqueror, has been described as the most valuable piece of antiquity possessed by any nation david hume and viewed by historians as the final act of the norman conquest. Whatever was recorded in domesday book was legally binding. Free taster packs english ks3 english gcse english resources maths ks3 maths ks4gcse maths ks5 maths science.
The name domesday book was not adopted until the late 12th century. Could be followed by a brief q and a on the experiences of the roleplaya small worksheet to discuss the different conversations and meetings had during the roleplay. In 1773, the government tried to publish domesday book for public. Source 4 florence of worcester was an english monk. The domesday book is the record of the great survey of much of england, and parts of wales, completed in 1086, done for william i of england, or william the conqueror. The domesday book online frequently asked questions. The information collected was recorded by hand in two huge books, in the space of around a year. But its importance extends well beyond the origins of english red tape. This information was all put into a single book called the domesday book. The inquests which resulted in the compilation of the domesday book made a vivid and unfavorable impression on the country.
Domesday book evidence activity doc domesday book evidence activity pdf make a class domesday book activity doc. The name domesday book middle english for doomsday book came into use in the 12th century. The domesday book also known as domesday, or book of winchester was a record of all taxable land in england, together with such information as would indicate its worth. Domesday book domesday book is the oldest government record held in the national archives. The assessors reckoning of a mans holdings and their values, as recorded in domesday book, was dispositive and without appeal. Horrible histories measly middle ages new census for the domesday book. The world of domesday exhibition depicts life in 11th century england. A complete translation penguin classics new ed by martin, geoffrey isbn. The first draft was completed in august 1086 and contained records for,418 settlements in the english counties south of the rivers ribble and. English and norman armies clashed in a battle just outside hastings, in which harold died legend has it that. Blog 6 in our key stage 3 history series looks at the writing of the domesday book. Key stage 3 focus on domesday the national archives.
Along with a string of castles throughout england, the domesday book was to give william huge authority in england. In 1783, there were two volumes of domesday book published. One of the most important historical events of the medieval era is the domesday book. Now available in one volume, here is the complete, authoritative translation from the original latin, together with an index of places and a glossary of terms used. The domesday book oh my i really thought it couldnt get any worse. Key stage 3 contents discover the story behind it 2 resource images 4 how was it made. The majority of these still exist in some form today. In the 20th century, historians grouped society into a set of ranks and responsibilities. It had the king at the top with all of the control, and the peasants at the bottom doing all of the work. There are some 418 towns and villages recorded in the domesday book, covering 40 of the old counties of england. He had men go around the land and record who owned the land and all the property they had including such things as livestock, farm equipment, and mills. The domesday book was commissioned in december 1085 by william the conqueror, who invaded england in 1066.
Domesday book in 1085, william ordered a full survey of the landholdings of all of england. Student could investigate the significance of the domesday book to the english, and to king. This website and its content is subject to our terms and conditions. A summary of the feudal system and the domesday book the. A similar effect was produced by the inquests of 1166 and 1170, before alluded to. The book is spelled the domesday book, a survey of lands, populace, and livestock in england and wales, which was done in 1086 for william i the conqueror. Tes global ltd is registered in england company no 02017289 with its registered office. The feudal system was a way of organising society into different groups based on their roles. A summary of the feudal system and the domesday book the feudal system was a way of organising people. The domesday book also known as domesday, or book of winchester was a record of all taxable land in england, together with such information as would. In fact there are two domesday books little domesday and about england in the 11th century. Domesday book simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The feudal system and the domesday book test questions. To further extend his grip on england, william i ordered that a.
Surnames mentioned in the domesday book british surnames. The national archives is the home of domesday book, the oldest surviving public record. Domesday book is kept at the national archives in london. The domesday book is one of medieval englands greatest treasures.
This fantastic pack contains our domesday book resources brilliant for your lessons. Its main purpose was to assess the wealth of england to aid the system of taxation. When william secured control over england after defeating harold at the battle of hastings, he introduced new ways of running th. This is an entry for dunwich, suffolk, in the domesday book. Discover how william the conqueror defeated the last of the viking kings, and one of the richest men in.
Produced under the supervision of the most renowned domesday scholars, this authoritative translation of the complete domesday offers a. The domesday book is closely linked with william the conquerors attempt to dominate medieval england. The domesday book was a complete written record of property ownership across england, and was completed in less than a year. In the twentieth year of william, king of the english. The kings men took eight months to carry out these orders and all the information was written down in two big books, which still exist. The children can survey their classmates with a modern twist. Domesday is now available online, and you can search for your town or village, and download images of domesday along with an english. Compiling the domesday book how the information was gathered and what can be found in the domesday volumes contents explore records for towns and villages from the domesday book landowners information about the landowners featured in the records of the domesday book. The activities also support the key stage 3 literacy strategy for the development of writing. The domesday book is a great land survey from 1086, commissioned by william the conqueror to assess the extent of the land and resources being owned in england at the time, and the extent of the taxes he could raise. After the death of edward the confessor, there was a bloody fourway battle for the throne.
1415 1251 72 998 1649 773 628 774 106 833 627 735 210 1046 16 604 1115 1224 637 349 796 851 1351 943 363 624 1160 146 1380 479 576 979 612 70 217