Society, Economy and Politics in Medieval England

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Society, economy

and politics in
medieval England
Government, law and justice
• The administration grew considerably
during the Norman period. One of the main
objectives was to achieve efficient taxation.
Taxes, custom duties and the administration
of justice were sources of income for the
kings.
• A unified legal system was gradually
established (the common law). By the end
of of the 12th century, most judges were
professionals appointed by the King. There
were permanent courts and travelling
judges (circuit judges)
• Trial by jury gradually replaced the Saxon
trials by ordeal or combat.
The Church
• The Church was another feudal power, whose interests were sometimes in conflict with
those of the kings. The appointment of bishops was a frequent reason for conflict with
the Pope. One example is Thomas Becket’s murder because of a conflict with Henry II.
• There was a great growth in the number of monasteries and nunneries. It is estimated
that there were about 900 religious houses with 17,000 members by 1300.
The slow decline of the feudal system
• Since the Norman period, the ‘manorial
system’ had been the basis of the economy:
the exchange of land for labour. Most of the
population were serfs. They were obliged
to work the land of their lord (‘home
farm’). In return, they were given small
strips of land to cultivate, part of the
village’s ‘common land’.
• From the 12th century on, many lords
found it more profitable to let some of their
land for money. Meny vassals became
tenants. The need for money became more
acute when they had to maintain
professional armies to fight in France.
The slow decline of the feudal system #2
• The population grew to approximately four million by 1300 (three times the population
in 1066). However, there wasn’t a parallel increase in the capacity to produce food. As a
result, inflation and famines were frequent. The situation was made even worse by the
plague and wars in the 14th century. All this resulted in an erosion of the feudal ties.
The growth of trade
• While the economic base was still agrarian, during the late
Middle Age commerce flourished. Wool trade (and later finished
cloth) became a fundamental source of revenue.
• The Kings profited from this trade through export taxes. In fact, it
was largely to protect the vital English wool trade routes with
continental Europe, threatened by the growing power of the King
of France Philip VI, that the Battle of Crécy was fought with the
French in 1346.
• Wool and cloth trade was so important that it was easy for
Edward III to convince merchants to finance his military
expeditions.
The growth of the cities
• The development of the cities paralled the
decline of feudal power, as they were mostly
free from feudal rule.
• Their creation and growth were encouraged by
the monarchs, who saw the cities as a
counterweight to the power of the nobility and
a source of taxes.
• Many cities were built on lands owned by the
barons, but they could buy from the King a
‘charter of freedom’.
• A numerous class of skilled workers developed
in the cities, where the were organized in
guilds.

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