“The Norman invasion introduced many changes to the government and administration of England.” Discuss.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement. There may be some comparison of Anglo–Saxon and Norman rule linked to the notion of change in the question. The Norman system was based on the Anglo–Saxon counties and Hundreds and directed from the centre as had been the case in pre-Norman England. The greatest changes were in personnel with all the earls and officials of the royal household being Norman by the end of William’s reign. Latin became the official administrative language. There may be reference to the Domesday Book, which was designed to record land tenure in order to improve tax gathering but was not a significant change and was written at the end of William’s reign. Other relevant factors such as castle building and the feudal system may be discussed as factors contributing to government and administration.

The question required candidates to offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that the Norman invasion introduced many changes to the government and administration of England. Few responses were seen to this question but some knowledge of the role of Norman castles and the replacement of Saxon landowners by Normans was shown.