What was the Domesday Book?
Quick Answer
The Domesday Book was a huge survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror in 1085–1086. It recorded who owned land, how much it was worth, and what resources it had.
The Full Story
The Domesday Book was compiled after the Norman Conquest to help William I assess his new kingdom for taxation and control. Finished in 1086, it is one of the most important medieval records in Europe because it lists landholders, villages, livestock, mills, and population estimates across much of England. The survey was so detailed that contemporaries treated it as an authoritative legal record. It survives today in the National Archives in London and is still used by historians studying medieval society and the economy.
Key Facts
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"How a 1086 land survey became one of history’s greatest records"
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