Welcome to this deck on Norman England. After William the Conqueror secured his kingdom through force, he faced an even bigger challenge: how to govern a hostile country and establish a lasting Norman society. In these lessons, you'll learn about the new systems he introduced, from the feudal system that controlled the land, to the Domesday Book that recorded its wealth. This is crucial for your exam, as it explains how the Norman Conquest transformed England forever.

One of William's most important introductions was the feudal system. This was a new way of organising society based on landholding. The king owned all the land in the kingdom. He then granted large areas of this land, known as fiefs, to his most loyal followers in return for their service. This system was the bedrock of Norman control.

The feudal system had a clear hierarchy. At the very top was the king. Below him were his most important followers, the tenants-in-chief, who included powerful barons and bishops. They held their land directly from the king. In return, they had to provide a set number of knights for the king's army, a duty known as knight service.