Justice and the legal system in Norman England
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can evaluate the extent to which justice and the legal system changed under the Normans.
Key learning points
- The Normans made relatively few changes to the English legal system.
- Hundred courts and shire courts remained, but Normans took over as sheriffs and the role increased in power.
- Norman England had more central control over the legal system than had been the case in Anglo-Saxon England.
- The Normans introduced the murdrum fine and criminalised the use of resources from royal forests.
- Normans and Anglo-Saxons were treated differently by the justice system.
Keywords
Justice - justice is the principles behind laws, including who benefits from the legal system; a justice was also another name for a judge
Hundred court - a hundred court is a lower court that dealt with local disputes and minor criminal cases
Shire court - a shire court is a court at the shire level which dealt with more serious criminal cases and land disputes
Sheriff - a sheriff is the king’s officer at the shire level
Common misconception
Trial by combat and trial by ordeal were punishments for crimes.
Trial by combat and trial by ordeal were ways of finding out who God judged as being innocent and guilty, though the ordeal was certainly punishing for both parties.
Teacher tip
This topic is a good one for exam practice on 'write an account' questions and interpretation questions.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which keyword describes an examination of specific details, opinions, behaviour, etc. and is made by asking people questions?
Q2.Which keyword is the name of a tax traditionally used to defend England against (Viking) invasions?
Q3.Which of these were questions not asked by the commissioners of the Great Survey?
Q4.Complete the sentence: The Great Survey was compiled in 1086, and the two volumes of records became known as Book.
Q5.How long did it take for the Great Survey to be completed?
Q6.How can historians use the Great Survey to assess the growth in the economy of towns under Norman rule?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which keyword describes a lower court that dealt with local disputes and minor criminal cases?
Q2.Which keyword describes the king’s officer at the shire level?
Q3.When did the shire court meet?
Q4.Why was William's appointment of royal justices important?
Q5.Complete the sentence: Normans and Anglo-Saxons were treated by the justice system.
Q6.When guilt or innocence could not be established by a regular trial, both Anglo-Saxon and Norman courts often used what type of trial as a way of proving guilt or innocence?
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Justice and the legal system in Norman England, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Justice and the legal system in Norman England, 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.