Middle+Ages+Documents




 * This picture is an image of the domesday book, the domesday book was one of the most important historical events in the Middle Ages. The domesday book** **was a survey, or census, commissioned by the Norman Conqueror King William I, of his newly conquered lands and possessions in England. It was intended to document "What, or how much, each man had, who was an occupier of land in England, either in land or in stock, and how much money it were worth". This survey let the Normans and William the Conqueror to administer England and levy taxes. The book was completed in 1086. The English people said this name was given to it, because, like the Day of Doom, it spared no one. The census and assessment proved of the highest importance to William and his men. The people indeed said bitterly that the King kept the Domesday book constantly by him, in order "that he might be able to see at any time of how much more wool the English flock would bear fleecing." The object of the or Domesday book was not to extort money, it was suppose to present a full and exact report of the financial and military resources of the kingdom.**