Notes for Comparing England and France - IB | RevisionDojo
Comparing England and France Notes
England vs. France
The Domesday Book (1086) was William the Conqueror’s record of landholding compiled just two decades after the Norman Conquest. It highlights how English monarchs leveraged written records like the Domesday Book, royal writs, and court documents to centralize control over taxation, justice, and feudal obligations.
Development of Royal Authority (11th–12th Centuries)
Norman Impact
After 1066, William I merged Anglo-Saxon administrative systems with Norman feudalism, creating a highly organized royal government earlier than in France.
Common Law
By the 12th century, especially under Henry II, England developed a uniform legal system (common law) applied across the realm, reducing the legal power of individual lords.
Written Records
England’s monarchy made heavy use of written documentation i.e. the Domesday Book (1086), royal writs, court records. These ensured clear royal control over taxation, justice, and feudal obligations.
Royal Officials
Sheriffs enforced royal law locally, ensuring the king’s presence was felt even in distant shires.
France’s Gradual Integration
Territorial Patchwork
In the early Capetian period, the king’s authority was strongest only in the Île-de-France.
Personal Loyalty
Power relied heavily on feudal bonds and the personal relationship between king and vassals rather than a centralized bureaucracy.
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What was the impact of the Norman Conquest on English royal authority?
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Note
The period between the 11th and 12th centuries marked a crucial phase in the development of royal authority in England and France. While both kingdoms sought to strengthen their monarchies, their approaches and successes varied significantly.
In England, the Norman Conquest of 1066 brought about a unique blend of Anglo-Saxon administrative systems and Norman feudalism, creating a highly organized royal government earlier than in France.
France, on the other hand, remained a patchwork of semi-independent territories, with royal authority strongest only in the Île-de-France region.
AnalogyThink of England's development like building a house with a strong foundation (administrative systems) and adding new features (feudalism), while France was more like trying to connect separate houses into a single estate.
DefinitionFeudalismA social and political system where land was exchanged for military service and loyalty.
ExampleWilliam the Conqueror introduced the Domesday Book in 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and resources, demonstrating the English monarchy's focus on organization and control.
