How did the feudal system and Norman government change the way England was ruled?
The feudal system of land in return for service, the roles of barons, knights and villeins, the changes to government and law under William, the position of the king, and how far Norman rule changed or continued Anglo-Saxon ways.
A focused answer to Norman government in OCR's Norman Conquest depth study, covering the feudal system of land for service, the roles of barons, knights and villeins, changes to royal government and law under William, and how far Norman rule changed or continued Anglo-Saxon ways.
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point explains the system of rule the Normans imposed: the feudal system of land for service, and the changes (and continuities) in government and law. You need to understand how the social pyramid worked, how William strengthened the king's position, and crucially how far Norman rule changed England, the classic interpretation debate of the module.
The feudal system
The social pyramid
Changes in government and law
How far did Norman rule change England?
Try this
Q1. In the feudal system, what did a baron owe the king in return for land? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. Loyalty and military service, providing a set number of knights when the king called (knight service).
Q2. Explain one way Norman government changed England and one way it stayed the same. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Change: a whole new Norman ruling class held land directly from a more powerful king under the feudal system. Continuity: William kept the Anglo-Saxon sheriffs, shires and the geld tax, ruling through proven machinery.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR SHP 20204 marksDescribe two features of the feudal system in Norman England.Show worked answer →
The British depth study opener (4 marks, two features, 2 marks each). Reward two distinct, developed features.
Feature one. It was based on land held in return for service: the king granted large estates to his barons (tenants-in-chief), who in turn owed him military service, providing a set number of knights when called.
Feature two. It was a strict hierarchy or pyramid: barons granted land to knights, who owed them service, and at the bottom villeins (unfree peasants) worked the land and owed labour and dues to their lord, with no land of their own.
Top marks. Two separate features, each with a precise supporting detail.
OCR SHP 20228 marksHow useful are Sources A and B to a historian studying changes in government after the Norman Conquest?Show worked answer →
The British depth study source utility question (8 marks, AO3). Judge usefulness through content and provenance, focused on changes in government.
Content. Explain what each source shows, for example the introduction of the feudal system, the role of the king's barons, the continued use of sheriffs and shire courts, or the writing of records in Latin.
Provenance. Weigh the nature, origin and purpose. A royal document or charter reflects the crown's view; a chronicle's author and date shape what it stresses about change.
Judgement. Conclude how useful each is for understanding governmental change, balancing what it reveals against its limits.
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