The Normans, how they changed Britain.

The Norman conquest in 1066 marks the beginning of the Middle Ages. Normans first came to
England, then Wales and Ireland from Normandy, in northern France, having arrived there first
from Viking descendants in 911. Although William’s ruling could be seen as harsh, with its
Feudal system, he brought political unity to England.

The Norman conquest meant that Britain would be more in contact with the continent and its
scandinavian influences would be diminished. It also set precedent to the permanent conflicts
and rivalry between Britain and France. This had a great influence in the isle’s culture.

One of the most important changes was language, Anglo-Norman was instated as the ruling
classes’ language, and Old English was used by peasants. Many french words found its way
into the English vocabulary (sacred/holy, legal/lawful, stench/aroma) so English became a more
cosmopolitan language. This also had its influence in literature, Chaucer was one of its main
representatives, and now literature could circulate in English courts as it did in France.

Normans introduced changes in architecture with the building of castles and the elaborate
Romanesque style in cathedrals, abbeys and churches.

Castles were the means and the symbols of feudal Britain’s oppression. They started out as
wooden structures on top of man made mounds, complimented by fortified areas at the bottom
to control attacks. This kind of castles were known as “motte and bailey” castles, motte referring
to the mound and the wooden tower for the baron to live in and bailey to the fortified areas below
which contained the barracks, stables and stores. Wooden structures later developed to stone
ones for more stability. The White Tower at The Tower of London dates back to this time, and
was conceived as Williams living quarters. Along with castles, almost every cathedral and church
was replaced by a Norman building. Since William was both a very religious man and a great
military strategist, he seek to ally both powers. Particularly in the borders of Scotland and Wales
we see buildings that combine both functions, castles and churches, abbey and town.

The solidity of these structures emphasises the strong beliefs medieval people had regarding
their political and religious views and how certain they were about them. Even though castles first
begun being built by William I, as a means of defence in his conquered land, they eventually
become must-have fortress homes for the nobility. By 1100, there were around 500 castles.

Religion
Catholic church dominates almost every aspect of medieval life. Most people live within sight of
their local church and rules their life by catholic rites, like: baptism, confession, mass, marriage
and funerals. This ceremonies are presided by their local priest. British territory is divided into
three archbishoprics: Canterbury, York and St. Andrews, these are divided into bishoprics each
with its bishop (powerful man of noble birth and literate) and cathedral. Bishoprics are divided
into parishes, each with its own stone church, presided by a priest (from all levels of society).

Church is the only place where education is provided, cathedrals often have schools that train
the clergy, mainly in Latin grammar. By the early 1200s Oxford’s and Cambridge’s schools evolve
into universities, in which nobles and knight’s children seek education as a symbol of status.

Church has different ways of collecting money: tithes (taxes), baptisms, marriages, burials and
indulgences (pardons for sins). Its revenues go into indulging the lavish life of bishops or to build
cathedrals.

Cathedrals, or the place where bishops have their seats, are places of splendour, mostly for
respect for god but also to showcase their own importance. Cathedrals also serve as a way to
educate the mostly illiterate population through its glass stained windows which depict Bible
stories, lives of saints and the consequences of immoral behaviour. Their building styles evolve
from the Romanesque with massive stone columns and thick walls that permit small arches and
little windows to the lightweight gothic style. The later, comes from France and is represented by
pointed arches, ribbed vaulting and huge stained glass windows, made possible by a change in
building technology, in which the weight of the materials is absorbed by flying buttresses.

Scotland and Wales

Scotland was considered an area best left alone, the king had some influence over its territory
but didn’t venture farther north than Cumbria.

Wales however was home to a series of family quarrels after their last king, King Llywelyn was
killed in 1063. William seized his opportunity to gain power and gave away lands along the
border to his most loyal supporters, who were named Marcher Lords. However, this didn’t last
long, for Welsh people wanted to be free and mastered the art of guerillas aided by the fact that
they had mountain strongholds. By the time William’s son, Rufus was dead, Wales was back to
being ruled by its own people.

Sources:
http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/medieval.html
http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/snapshot_medieval_castles.html
http://www.infobritain.co.uk/norman_britain_history.htm
http://www.britannia.com/history/narmedhist.html