The Domesday Book: William the Conqueror's Great Survey

In 1086, just twenty years after the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror commissioned a survey of his new kingdom so exhaustive that it was compared to the Day of Judgment. The Domesday Book—actually two volumes, Great Domesday and Little Domesday—recorded who owned every piece of land, how much it was worth, how many people lived there, and even how many pigs and ploughs they had. This episode unpacks how the survey was conducted, what it tells us about life in 11th-century England, and why it remains one of the most important historical documents in the English language. We'll explore the process of sending royal commissioners to every shire, the inquests held in local courts, and the legacy of a book that was still being used in the 20th century. From the Anglo-Saxon thegns who lost their lands to the Norman barons, to the ordinary villagers whose every ox was counted, the Domesday Book offers an unparalleled snapshot of medieval society—and a lesson in state power. #DomesdayBook #WilliamTheConqueror #NormanConquest #1086 #MedievalSurvey #GreatDomesday #LittleDomesday #AngloSaxon #NormanEngland #FeudalSystem #EnglishHistory #MedievalHistory #Taxation #Census #HistoryPodcast #FexingoHistory #BritishHistory #HistoricalDocuments Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo