Medieval Migration - Overview

Question 1

What are the three main reasons people migrated to Britain over thousands of years?

Answer 1

Trade, settlement, conquest

Question 2

What were some of the regions from which people migrated to Britain during the Roman conquest?

Answer 2

Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa

Question 3

Which Germanic peoples arrived in Britain between the 5th and 11th centuries?

Answer 3

Angles, Saxons, Jutes

Question 4

In which centuries did Viking invaders settle in large numbers in England?

Answer 4

9th and 10th centuries

Question 5

By what evidence do we know that England was already multicultural and multilingual by 1000 AD?

Answer 5

Archaeology, genetic biology, chemical analysis of skeletons, histories written by people living at the time

Question 6

How long ago did the earliest ancestors of people in Britain arrive?

Answer 6

About 25,000 years ago from other parts of Europe.

Question 7

Who were some of the people brought to Britain by the Roman conquest in AD43?

Answer 7

People from across the Roman Empire, including Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Question 8

What were the primary occupations of people during the medieval period?

Answer 8

Most people were farmers, some were freemen owning their land, while many were villeins who worked for their lord in exchange for land.

Question 9

How did people acquire goods other than what they grew themselves?

Answer 9

People either made the items themselves or bought them in local markets where craftspeople, merchants, and traders sold their goods.

Question 10

Who controlled the making and selling of goods during this time?

Answer 10

Craft guilds had significant power and controlled the production and sale of goods.

Question 11

What was England’s primary economy focused on?

Answer 11

England’s economy was mainly focused on primary activities, such as producing raw materials. Its most valuable export was high-quality wool.

Question 12

What was England’s most valuable export, and who were its main buyers?

Answer 12

England’s most valuable export was high-quality wool, which was sold to weavers in the Low Countries who then made it into cloth.

Question 13

What caused a serious labor shortage in England during this time?

Answer 13

The Black Death in the mid-14th century caused a significant decrease in the population, leading to a labor shortage across various occupations.

Question 14

Why did rulers seek loans during this period?

Answer 14

Rulers, including the monarchy and the Church, sought loans for wars and building projects. They needed to borrow money from wealthy individuals, as the Church prohibited Catholics from lending money with interest.

Question 15

What religious influence dominated England during this period?

Answer 15

England was a Catholic country, and the church played a central role in people’s lives, controlling their thoughts about life and death.

Question 16

What historical events contributed to hostility towards immigrants in England?

Answer 16

England’s involvement in the Crusades from 1095 for two hundred years fueled hostility towards Jews and Muslims, leading to religious anti-Semitism.

Question 17

What fueled hatred against Jews in England during this period?

Answer 17

Some influential individuals stirred up religious anti-Semitism, exacerbating tensions and hostility towards Jews.

Question 18

What was a significant source of tension in English society during this period?

Answer 18

There was considerable tension between the ruling class and the majority of the population, who had no voice in government. This tension sometimes resulted in rebellions, particularly when minority groups were targeted.

Question 19

How were foreigners perceived in England during difficult times?

Answer 19

Foreigners, often under the protection of the monarch, were sometimes viewed as siding with the ruling class. During times of hardship, they were blamed for issues like unemployment and rising prices.

Question 20

What determined citizenship in lands ruled by the English king during the Middle Ages?

Answer 20

In theory, anyone born in lands ruled by the king was considered a citizen, while those born elsewhere were regarded as foreigners or aliens, although this was often complex.

Question 21

What complexities arose regarding citizenship during the Middle Ages in England’s territories?

Answer 21

Despite England’s control over Wales, many Welsh people did not accept English rule. Similarly, Irish people living under English control were not treated as citizens, as they were seen as colonized people.

Question 22

How did the Hundred Years’ War impact citizenship status?

Answer 22

During the Hundred Years’ War between England and France, territories changed hands, affecting the citizenship status of residents. For instance, Gascons from southwest France were treated as English citizens until France regained control of Gascony, at which point they became ‘aliens’.

Question 23

What option did aliens have to gain rights similar to citizens?

Answer 23

Aliens could request letters of denization from the king, granting them many rights of a citizen, such as land ownership. However, this privilege was typically accessible only to individuals of higher status.

Question 24

How did the citizenship status of foreign-born residents’ children change?

Answer 24

Children of foreign-born residents ceased to be classified as aliens if they were born in England, thus gaining citizenship rights.

Question 25

What were some reasons immigrants came to England during the Middle Ages?

Answer 25

Immigrants arrived in England seeking work, escaping problems in their homelands such as war and economic collapse, responding to invitations from those in power, or being forced to come, such as political prisoners or enslaved individuals.

Question 26

How did immigrants experience settlement in England during the Middle Ages?

Answer 26

While many immigrants settled well and became part of local communities, there was often resentment from locals who felt they were receiving special treatment or taking local jobs. Treatment varied based on nationality, usefulness to the Crown, and the socio-political climate.

Question 27

What impacts did immigration have on English society during the Middle Ages?

Answer 27

Immigration had significant social, cultural, and economic impacts. The mistreatment of Jews spread racist myths across Europe. Immigrants contributed to the construction of castles and cathedrals, facilitated the transition from a primary to a secondary economy, and helped develop London as a financial center.

Question 28

How did immigration contribute to economic changes in England?

Answer 28

Jewish moneylenders aided in the construction of castles and cathedrals. Flemish and Dutch artisans assisted in transforming the economy from one based on raw materials to manufacturing. Hanseatic merchants and Lombard bankers played a crucial role in the development of London as a financial and trading hub.