1.13.20

Changes Under the Normans - Rights & Responsibilit

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Rights and Responsibilities

The feudal system worked with lots of giving in-kind. Each group of people in the feudal system was dependent on another group for some resource or power.

Illustrative background for HomageIllustrative background for Homage ?? "content

Homage

  • To control the inheritance process in England, William introduced a ceremony of homage. This meant that the king could extract parts of the inheritance and made everyone and their families' assets beholden to (dependent on) him.
  • Similarly, using forfeiture, he could take people's land.
Illustrative background for LandholdingIllustrative background for Landholding ?? "content

Landholding

  • Peasants held land if their lord gave them land. They also had to do labour service for their lord.
  • The nobles held land, but William could take land from them via forfeiture or in the ceremony of homage to reduce noble families' assets and influence.
Illustrative background for Knight serviceIllustrative background for Knight service ?? "content

Knight service

  • Knights were the best soldiers in England. Having thousands of Knights paid for by William would be expensive.
  • The leasing or renting of Knights for 1-2 months per year meant that William had a strong army, but didn't have to pay too much for it.
  • Nobles who lent William their Knights were rewarded with their landholdings.
Illustrative background for Labour serviceIllustrative background for Labour service ?? "content

Labour service

  • Peasants worked for their landlord in 'labour service'. In exchange for this labour, the lord or noble would protect the peasants.
  • Unlike the ceorls (poor farmers) under Anglo-Saxon rulers, under Norman rule, peasants had to stay with their lord, and could not work for another if they chose.

Jump to other topics

1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5Medieval Religion

1.6The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12European Renaissance

1.13Norman Conquest & Control

1.14Historical Skills

2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4King John

2.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6The Black Death

3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

18World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

19The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

20Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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