Correction of the English written test III                

OPTION C

The Norman invasion changed the way of living of the local inhabitants of Great Britain.

In 1066, William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, invaded Great Britain and he was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey.

It is an important date because is signed the first and the last conquest of Great Britain.

William the Conqueror came from a Northwestern France area called “         Normandy”; indeed he was the Duke of Normandy. The Normans were descendants of the Vikings therefore they had their own social organization, administration and culture.

The battle of Hastings (1066) was fought over the right of succession to the English throne. Edward the Confessor died and left no heirs. Harold Godwinson was an Edward’s advisor, one of the most powerful man and Edward’s brother in law. His powerful position, his relationship with Edward and his reputation among his peers made him a logical successor to the English throne.

William the Conqueror claimed his right to the throne stating that Edward had promised him that he would become his successor.

It follows that at the battle of Hastings in 1066 Harold and his brother died leaving the country without a strong leader to oppose William. William the Conqueror became King of England in 1066 and his reign lasted several years.

During his reign, William gained authority and brought many changes into England. First of all, he imposed a firm administration control based on the feudal system. Society was organized into a pyramidal structure, in which the most important figure was the Pope. He was the representative of God in earth. After the Pope came the King with the nobles, who generally lived in castles. Below there were the knights, who were craftsmen, traders and ordinary people. At last there were the “villeins”, unfree men that had no right to their lord. It follows that, the Anglo Saxon social organization was completely erased and transformed. William was also interested in the development of the Church in England but he maintained a certain distance from the Roman Church. During this period, the church was getting richer and richer. People offered donations because their preoccupation was to be saved. The ecclesiastical incomes guaranteed the construction of churches. The churches were called “cathedrals” because they contained a “cathedra” for bishops. Christianity was spreading in the whole Great Britain. The King William was also occupied in the construction of castle-building, which was the symbol of the King’s power. He introduced chivalry; the knights were men chosen by the King.

Prior Anglo Saxon values turned into Norman values; the most important values were bravery, loyalty to their lord, courtly manners, respect and honor to the womenhood.

The Normans spoke French and wrote in Latin. “Old English” language was considered inferior although it was spoken by the majority of people. However English was spoken with French borrowings and the French was going into decline.

The medieval period in Northern Europe is characterized by many changes on a linguistic, administrative, cultural and social level. The local inhabitants adopted a new life style.