5. The Norman invasion. The main principles of feudalism.

In the 9’th century while the Danes were plundering England another branch of Northman who were related to the Danes were doing the same along the Northern coasts of France. They were called Normans. They settled down the France and they were quite different from their Germanic forefathers. They lived among the French people, who were different people, with different manners, customs and language. The Normans lived under the rule of their own Duke. By the 11’th century the Dukes of Normandy had become very powerful. They were great fighters and would wage wars in order to seize new lands.

In 1066 William, the Duke of Normandy began to gather army to invade Britain.

William landed in the south of England in the 14’th of October in 1066 near the town Hastings. The Normans were very strong and well-armed. The victory at Hastings was only the beginning of the Conquest. It took several years to William to subdue the whole England.

Soon after the victory at Hastings the Normans encircled London. He was met by the Saxon bishops and nobles. They knew that they could not stop William, so they asked him to be the king of England without any more fighting. So, the Norman Duke became the king of England-William the first or William the Conqueror. He ruled England for 21 years. He was crowned in Westminster Abbey.

William the Conqueror took lands from Saxon nobles and gave them to his Norman barons, who became new masters of the land. And for a long time two languages were spoken in the country: Norman-French was the official language of the court, law and government and Anglo-Saxon was spoken by common Saxon people and some Saxon nobles.

But there were many people in England who did not want to be ruled by a Norman king, and in many parts of the country there were rebellions. But with the strong army, William cruelly put down all the rebellions. Lots of people were killed; villages and towns were completely destroyed.

The Norman Conquest opens the period of final establishment of feudalism in England. The central idea of feudal society was that all land was owned by the king, but it was held by others, called vassals.

Soon William ordered to make a register of all land-holdings. The register was called Doomsday Book.

In the 14’th century English became the official language of the country.

Trade was increasing. Much trading consisted of wool. The towns grew rapidly in size and importance and became the centers of handicraft production of all kinds. Medieval towns were surrounded with walls. Round many towns there were moats filled with water.

The houses in medieval towns were built of stones or wood. Many people living in towns were engaged in craftsmanship.

6. Early British education. The first universities. A medieval town.

Until the nineteenth century there were only two university establishments in England and five in Scotland (including two in Aberdeen).

University of Oxford England Before 1167

University of Cambridge England 1209

University of St Andrews Scotland Between 1410 and 1413

University of Glasgow Scotland 1451

University of Aberdeen Scotland 1495

University of Edinburgh Scotland 1582

The towns grew rapidly in size and importance and became the centers of handicraft production of all kinds. Medieval towns were surrounded with walls. It was done to defend the town from possible attacks. Round many towns there were moats filled with water.

The houses in medieval towns were built of stones or wood. The streets were very narrow and they were dirty and covered with mud. So there is no wonder that there were different kinds of epidemics.

Many people living in towns were engaged in craftsmanship.

Specialists of different trades were united into corresponding guilds, which were a kind of professional clubs. These clubs had certain rules. So, for example, one of the most important rules was to sell goods at a fixed price.