Changes Under the Normans - Towns
History: KS3, topic 1.13.15
Norman Towns
The Normans made a number of important changes to towns, which reshaped the English landscape.
After the Battle of Hastings
- After winning the Battle of Hastings, William led his army towards London, pillaging (stealing from) villages and farms and capturing the royal treasury in Winchester.
Why were Norman castles important?
- Castles were built at important strategic points, often in important towns.
- Castles were important for 2 reasons:
- Castles helped to defend England from foreign invasion. Castles were built in vital strategic locations across England. Places like the border between England and Wales and outside key towns helped defend Norman England against foreign attackers.
- Castles helped to maintain William of Normandy's control over the local population. Many local earls did not like William. Having a military presence in each town helped to secure the local area and the size of castles was physically intimidating, scaring people away from rebelling.
Castles in towns
- Building castles quickly allowed the Normans to establish control over a town.
- Anglo-Saxon burhs had traditionally been to protect the whole town. Castles were to keep control of the local population.
More towns
- Under the Normans, the number of towns increased.
- Existing towns grew in size as castles were built and infrastructure improved.
- Trade with Europe increased as the Normans had connections to Norman France.
- The Domesday Book showed 18 towns with more than 2,000 people.
Trade
- The main trading industries were:
- Livestock (sheep and animals).
- Fish.
- Salt.
- Wool.
- People came to towns to set up small businesses.
Guilds
- Guilds were groups of certain types of workers. Being in a guild meant that you shared best practice with other members of the guild and was a stamp of quality control.
- In large towns, there would be blacksmiths (someone who worked with metal) and butchers' guilds.
Test yourself on Changes Under the Normans - Towns
What was the main difference between burhs and castles?
How many towns in the Domesday Book had more than 2,000 people?