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Difficulty: MediumThe Norman Conquest

In 10851085, William the Conqueror ordered a thorough survey of England to record every town, the people who lived there, and even the animals owned by each household. Why did the English people come to call this record the 'Domesday Book'?

  1. Because there was no appeal against the information collected, similar to a 'day of judgment'Answer
  2. B
    Because it recorded the 'doom' or destruction that the Normans brought to the Anglo-Saxon kingdom in 10661066
  3. C
    Because it was written in a new style of Norman French court handwriting known as the 'Domesday' script
  4. D
    Because it was based on an ancient Roman census that had been updated for the 1111 th century

Answer

The name 'Domesday' reflected the belief that the information collected was final and could not be disputed, similar to a 'day of judgment'.
The correct answer accurately states that 'Domesday' refers to the 'day of judgment'. This nickname was given because the survey was so thorough that the information it collected about land, people, and animals was considered final and could not be challenged in court.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the purpose of the 10851085 survey.
William the Conqueror needed to assess the wealth and resources of England for taxation and control.
This establishes why such a thorough record of people, land, and animals was created.
2
Analyze the popular name given to the record.
The public called it the 'Domesday Book' rather than its official administrative title.
Popular names often reflect the impact of an event or document on the common population.
3
Link the name to its historical and cultural meaning.
In Old English, 'Domesday' means 'day of judgment'. Just as there was no appeal against the biblical Day of Judgment, there was no appeal against the census data.
This explains the specific reasoning behind the name as recorded in historical accounts and the official handbook.

Key Concept

The Domesday Book and its significance as a final administrative record.
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Topics

The Norman Conquest

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