Normans

• Who were the normans?

  The Normans were people of Viking origin who settled in northwestern France in the 9th century.

  In addition, they settled in Sicily, where they founded the Kingdom of Sicily in 1130. They also invaded Ireland and settled in the 12th century.
• Origin of normans

  They were part of a Second Wave of invasions (Vikings, Magyars and Saracens) after the division of the Carolingian Empire.

  People believed that those invasions were a sign of the End of Times (year 1000 AD).

  They came from Scandinavia. Eventually they conquered the British Islands and the north of France.
• How was the political system of normans?

  They had a feudal system were the feudal lord controlled all the political things like the land workers.
• How was the social system?

  The social system of the Normans was based on a complicated network of the feudal system with vassals, feudal lords and knights. And they imputed their social system and religion everywhere they went.
• How was the religon and society?

  They have a pagan religion, and according to their beliefs, it was an honor to die in battle. Eventually they converted to Catholicism. Norman women had significantly more freedom that other womens.
• How was their economy?

  The economy of the Normans was based on agriculture, trade and feudalism.

  Agriculture was difficult in their land because of the climate and soil. They introduced a lot of innovations thanks to their trade routes.

  Their ships, called drakkars, were light and allowed them to sail up rivers.
• How the Normas improved their agricuture?

  They improved the agriculture by introducing new crops, such as apples, pears, grapes, and hops. They also built watermills, windmills and fish ponds to increase the production of food and goods. They traded with other countries, such as France, Spain,...
• How did they divided their land?

  The Normans divided the land into manors. The king gave these manors to his loyal followers, called barons or lords, who had to provide him with soldiers and money. The lords then rented the land to peasants, called villeins or serfs, who had to work for them and pay them rent and taxes.
• How was their cultural achievements?

  Even the Normans did not achieved big cultural things they were important for the art, architecture, music and literature.
• How was their art?

  They made some important tapestries
• How was their architecture?

  They built some buildings that stills remains this days.
• How was their music?

  They created the Branle dance.
• How was their literature

  They were very important for the development of the french lenguage