Medieval Migration - Reasons For Migration

Question 1

Who were the Normans, and what did they do in 1066?

Answer 1

The Normans were military invaders who arrived in England in 1066. They were led by William the Conqueror, who claimed the throne of England.

Question 2

How did William the Conqueror become the King of England?

Answer 2

After winning the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William the Conqueror took control of England by force, claiming the title of its ruler.

Question 3

What promise did William make to the Norman nobles who joined his invasion?

Answer 3

William promised Norman nobles land seized from Anglo-Danish owners as a reward for joining his invasion of England.

Question 4

How was the Norman migration of 1066 different from others?

Answer 4

Unlike other migrations, the Normans forcefully took political and economic power in England, imposing their rule on the country.

Question 5

How did William the Conqueror establish control over England?

Answer 5

William built castles strategically, established systems of justice and taxation, and conducted a survey of all land and property known as the Domesday Book to facilitate tax collection.

Question 6

What system did William impose on England?

Answer 6

William imposed the feudal system, organizing society into a hierarchical structure where everyone had a designated place and obligation to the ruler.

Question 7

How did William ensure control over the Church?

Answer 7

William placed individuals loyal to him in key positions within the Church, ensuring its alignment with his rule.

Question 8

When did Jewish settlers arrive in England, and why were they invited by William the Conqueror?

Answer 8

Jewish settlers arrived in England around 1070, invited by William the Conqueror to serve as moneylenders for his building projects, as Catholic teaching prohibited Christians from lending money with interest.

Question 9

What role did Jewish people play in medieval England, particularly in terms of finance?

Answer 9

Jewish people were encouraged, and sometimes forced, to become moneylenders due to Catholic restrictions on Christians lending money with interest. They assisted in financing building projects and supporting the administration of government.

Question 10

What were the occupations of Jewish people living in medieval England?

Answer 10

While some Jewish individuals, such as Aaron of Lincoln and Licoricia of Oxford, became wealthy moneylenders, many others held ordinary jobs within their communities, ranging from doctors to fishmongers.

Question 11

Where did Jewish communities reside in medieval England and Wales?

Answer 11

Jewish communities lived in various parts of England and Wales, sometimes in distinct communities where they practiced their rituals, and sometimes alongside the wider population.

Question 12

What privileges were granted to Jewish settlers by King Henry I?

Answer 12

King Henry I granted Jewish settlers a ‘Charter of Liberties’, allowing them to seek refuge in the safety of the King’s castles if they were in danger. However, they were subject to higher taxes in exchange for protection from the Crown.

Question 13

Why is it challenging to understand the lives of Jews in medieval England?

Answer 13

There are few written accounts from Jewish people living at the time. Although they appear in some tax records and legal documents, there are still significant gaps in our knowledge of their lives and communities.

Question 14

What tangible evidence exists of Jewish presence in medieval England?

Answer 14

Some buildings, such as the Jew’s house in Lincoln and the remains of a ritual bath in Bristol, serve as recorded evidence of Jewish presence in medieval England, but much remains unknown about their history and experiences.

Question 15

Where did many migrants to England come from during the medieval period?

Answer 15

Many migrants came from the Low Countries, which are now Belgium and the Netherlands, seeking refuge from war and attracted by better conditions and wages in England.

Question 16

Why were weavers from the Low Countries encouraged to come to England by kings such as Henry III and Edward III?

Answer 16

Kings like Henry III and Edward III encouraged Low Country weavers to migrate to England to pass on weaving skills to English craftspeople. They were attracted by promises of setting up their own guilds and having the freedom to work where they pleased.

Question 17

What economic incentives were offered to Flemish weavers by King Edward III?

Answer 17

King Edward III allowed Flemish weavers to set up their own guilds, ensured they could work wherever they wanted, and even restricted the export of English wool to encourage them to come to England.

Question 18

Besides weavers, what other artisans from the Low Countries migrated to England?

Answer 18

Tailors, glaziers, brick makers, and shoemakers were among the many artisans who migrated by sea to the southeast of England from the Low Countries.

Question 19

What other migrants from various regions filled occupations in medieval England?

Answer 19

Craftspeople from Ireland, Scotland, and France also migrated to England, filling a wide range of occupations from priests and saddle makers to goldsmiths and bakers.

Question 20

What was the proportion of foreign-born individuals in England during the 15th century, and what was the ratio in London?

Answer 20

Approximately one in every 10 people in England was foreign-born, while in London, it was one in six.

Question 21

Besides artisans, what were the other common reasons for migration to England in the 15th century?

Answer 21

Bankers and merchants, child trafficking, wealthy immigrants, and servants/laborers were among the common causes for migration.

Question 22

Which wealthy banking families began setting up in London in the 1220s, and what was their role?

Answer 22

Wealthy banking families from Lombardy in Italy began setting up in London, lending money to kings like Edward I for wars and castle building. They replaced Jewish moneylenders and were later joined by German merchants from the Hanseatic League.

Question 23

What was the Hanseatic League, and what trading settlement did they establish in London?

Answer 23

The Hanseatic League comprised northern European cities engaged in trade. They established a trading settlement called the steelyard on the banks of the river Thames in London, receiving a charter from the king in 1303 to trade in wool and other goods at reduced tax rates.

Question 24

Who were some of the wealthy immigrants who settled in England, and how did they gain residency rights?

Answer 24

Foreign nobles, refugees, and foreign princesses marrying kings brought relatives and attendants who settled with them. Those with connections could obtain letters of denization from the King, granting them the right to stay.

Question 25

Which group comprised the largest segment of foreign migrants in England, and where were many of them from?

Answer 25

Servants and laborers, mainly from Ireland, Scotland, and France, formed the largest group of migrants, working across England in households and artisans’ workshops.