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Article: The Domesday Book.(English historical document)
- Article from:
- Calliope
- Article date:
- February 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Carus Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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As AN INVENTORY OF LAND AND PROPERTY IN England, the Domesday Book was unsurpassed in medieval times for its thoroughness and the speed with which it was compiled. First, Norman lords gathered local information and sent it to the king's advisors. Because most English people spoke Anglo-Saxon, while the lords and officials spoke Norman French or Latin, many villages needed a translator. Then, officials were sent to verify the information. They asked people from each village the same questions, carefully double-checking their answers. Finally, the information was written down in the Domesday Book.
Known as Great Domesday and Little Domesday, these books were ...