Domesday Book
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the significance of Domesday Book.
Key learning points
- In 1085, William ordered a survey to detail the possessions of his new kingdom of England.
- The survey was compiled in 1086, and the two volumes of records became known as Domesday Book.
- Historians do not fully agree on the purpose, but Domesday Book gave William a very detailed account of landholding.
- Domesday may also have provided William with an accurate account of the tax and soldiers his new kingdom could provide.
- Domesday increased William’s royal authority: the capacity to seize and distribute lands, and to charge accordingly.
Keywords
Survey - a survey is an examination of specific details, opinions, behaviour, etc., made by asking people questions
Manor - a manor is a unit of land overseen by a lord - a lord’s large manor house is also a feature
Geld - geld is the name of a tax traditionally used to defend England against (Viking) invasions
Common misconception
People think the survey and Domesday Book are one and the same thing.
In fact, the survey was ordered in 1085, and later compiled into what became known as Domesday Book.
Teacher tip
Domesday Book is available online. Have students search for their local record to identify key details like who held the manor in 1066 and in 1085, the geld owed, and how many mills or enslaved people there were.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Whose land did William claim for the Normans?
Q2.Which of these changed William's attitude to including Anglo-Saxons in positions of power?
Q3.What was the name of the important Norman landholders who held land directly from the monarch?
Q4.Complete the sentence with the correct answer: William introduced a new system of landholding that more strictly tied the landholder to the .
Q5.How many of William’s top-ranking lords held 25% of the land in England?
Q6.Complete this sentence: The Normans introduced stricter landholding rules and many Anglo-Saxon landholders often had their landholdings .
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In which year did William order the survey that became Domesday Book?
Q2.Which of these were questions asked by the commissioners of the Great Survey?
Q3.Match the terms to their correct definitions.
gathering specific details by asking people questions
a unit of land overseen by a lord
the name of a tax used to defend England against Viking attacks
Q4.Complete this sentence: in 1086 William summoned the tenants-in-chief to a grand ceremony where they paid .
Q5.Domesday was commissioned at a time when England faced invasion from which country?
Q6.Which of these do historians consider likely reasons why William ordered the Great Survey that became Domesday Book?
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Domesday Book, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Domesday Book, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the British Depth Study: Norman England, c1066–c1100 unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.