EXPLORING EQUITY IN ANGLO-NORMAN TAXATION: A CASE STUDY OF WILTSHIRE ESTATES
Abstract
The Domesday survey of 1086 stands as a seminal document providing invaluable insights into the Anglo-Norman tax system. Conducted approximately two decades after William, Duke of Normandy, conquered England, this survey resulted in the compilation of the Domesday Book, which contains comprehensive data on tax assessments, incomes, and resources of estates across England. Specifically, the assessments documented in the Domesday Book pertain to an estate tax known as the geld.
While the specific details regarding the imposition of assessments and the underlying rationale behind the assessment process have been lost to history, contemporary analysis of the relationships between assessments and estate characteristics offers a pathway to understanding the impact of taxation on landholders and elucidating key features of tax policy during the Anglo-Norman period. By examining these relationships, researchers can infer the broader implications of the tax system on landholders and the socioeconomic landscape of medieval England.
This study endeavors to explore the implications of the Domesday survey on the Anglo-Norman tax system, drawing upon a comprehensive analysis of estate assessments and their correlations with estate characteristics. Through a meticulous examination of tax records and historical data, the study aims to shed light on the mechanisms of taxation, the distribution of tax burdens among landholders, and the broader implications for governance and socioeconomic structures during this period.
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Domesday survey, Anglo-Norman tax system, Domesday Book, Estate assessments, Tax policyDownloads
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Copyright (c) 2024 Samantha Jane Smith , Benjamin Thomas Lee
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