Migration Topic 1

• Why did the Vikings come to England?


  Religion - God Odin would reward them

  Trade - taking control of towns would make them rich

  Agriculture - soil was rich and fertile
• Why did the Normans come to England?


  Power/Blood claim - Edward the Confessor died in 1066. William Conqueror came from Normandy. Had the support of the Pope
• Why did Jews come to England?


  Fleeing persecution - Jewish Diaspora in modern day Israel and Palestine. Fleeing the Romans.

  Invited - by William the Conqueror. Wanted for their skills as moneylenders. In 1070.
• Why did the migrants from the Low Countries come to England?


  Black Death - Europe's population declined by 50% therefore more jobs became available.

  Job opportunities - Due to Hundred Years War, wanted better lives.

  Invited - Henry III wanted weavers.
• Why did the migrants from Lombardy come to England?


  Job opportunities - were bankers. Came in 1220s. Saw opportunities to invest money and become richer. Wanted to replace Jewish moneylenders.

  Accepted - by the Pope. Allowed Christians to charge interest on any money that was lent.
• How did the Vikings come to England?


  865 - Viking army come to east coast.

  866 - Captured York, used it as base

  871 - Tried to conquer Wessex but were paid by Alfred.

  878 - Conquered Northumbria, Mercia, and East Anglia.

  878 - Tried Wessex again. Danelaw boundary created and Wessex remained.
• How did the Normans come to England?


  1066 - Battle of Hastings, people surrendered

  Dec 1066 - William the Conqueror crowned king.
• What was the Viking experience like?


  Positive.

  Reign of King Cnut (1016-1035) - allowed Saxons to hold positions of power and maintained Anglo-Saxon laws. Peace and security to England.

  Increasing tensions :

  King Ethelred worried about Danes and Vikings joining forces - massacred Danes in 1002.

  Ethelred paid Vikings in Danegeld to leave - fails and raids increased.

  1013 - Drove Ethelred and his family out of England.
• What was the Norman experience like?


  Positive.

  Harrying of the North: 1069 - Burned down Saxon homes, warned them to never rebel, led to starvation of Saxon families and prevented further rebellions.

  Castle building - intimidated Anglo-Saxons, visual reminder of who was in charge and had full control.
• What was the Jewish experience like?


  Negative.

  Anti-Semitism - given special status from the king led to jealousy. Jobs as money lenders were seen as anti-Christian. Blamed by Christians for Crusades in 1095.

  Blood Libels: Jewish rituals, rumours that they used children's blood.

  Statute of Jewry: 1290 - Banned Jews from charging interest on loans, made them bankrupt.

  1290 - Edward I ordered all Jews to convert to Christianity or leave England, 3,000 refused and were shipped out as refugees.
• What was the experience of migrants from Low Countries like?

  Positive.

  Taught new skills to English and helped in bricklaying and brewing.

  Weavers were successful in cloth industry.
• What was the experience of migrants from Lombardy like?

  Positive.

  Helped change London into key financial centre.

  Invested in wool and cloth trade.

  Took advantage of Anti-Semitism and replaced Jews as moneylenders.

  Gave money to Edward I and Henry III.
• What were the impacts of the Vikings?

  Language - Old Norse words, 'Thor's Day' (Thursday), names ending in -son

  Government - Things, voting by democracy.
• What were the impacts of the Normans?


  Buildings - castles and cathedrals

  Land Ownership - Feudal System

  Laws - Forest Laws, banned hunting in king's forests.
• What were the impacts of the Jews?

  Economic - were taxed heavily by monarchs to pay for wars.

  E.g. Richard I used Jewish money to help pay for Crusades.
• What were the impacts of the migrants from Lombardy?

  Economic - made London into a key financial centre and trading market.
• What were the impact of the migrants from Low Countries?

  Economic - cloth became England's main source of wealth. Economy based on manufacturing goods.
• Case Study - York (Vikings)

  2nd largest town

  Important for Trade, religion and Anglo-Saxon government

  Captured in 866 and named it Jorvik.

  Importance:

  Roads and rivers made it easily accessible - easier to conquer the rest of the north.

  Rivers connected to North Sea - important for trade

  Became multicultural city, trade from Germany, Holland, etc.
• Case Study - York (Vikings)

  Trade:

  Fur from Russia, walrus ivory, wine from Germany, Arabian spices and oils

  Religion:

  Viking kings converted to Christianity. Most coins carried Christian symbols to prove how essential it was to Viking life.
• Case Study - York (Vikings)

  Conflict between kings - last Viking king (Erick Bloodaxe) driven out of York in 954. Continued to have strong influence.