Justice and the legal system in Norman England
I can evaluate the extent to which justice and the legal system changed under the Normans.
Justice and the legal system in Norman England
I can evaluate the extent to which justice and the legal system changed under the Normans.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Normans made relatively few changes to the English legal system.
- Hundred courts and shire courts remained, but Normans took over as sheriffs and the role increased in power.
- Norman England had more central control over the legal system than had been the case in Anglo-Saxon England.
- The Normans introduced the murdrum fine and criminalised the use of resources from royal forests.
- Normans and Anglo-Saxons were treated differently by the justice system.
Keywords
Justice - justice is the principles behind laws, including who benefits from the legal system; a justice was also another name for a judge
Hundred court - a hundred court is a lower court that dealt with local disputes and minor criminal cases
Shire court - a shire court is a court at the shire level which dealt with more serious criminal cases and land disputes
Sheriff - a sheriff is the king’s officer at the shire level
Common misconception
Trial by combat and trial by ordeal were punishments for crimes.
Trial by combat and trial by ordeal were ways of finding out who God judged as being innocent and guilty, though the ordeal was certainly punishing for both parties.
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: Justice and the legal system in Norman England, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: Justice and the legal system in Norman England, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Norman England: how far did Norman government change England? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
- Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
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Adult supervision required
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