The Impact of Migrants in Medieval England (Edexcel GCSE History) : Revision Note

How significant an impact did migrants have on Medieval England?- Timeline & Summary

Migrants had a significant and long-lasting impact on many aspects of Medieval England.

Vikings shaped local government in the Danelaw. The Normans had a deeper national impact, changing landownership, laying the foundations of Parliament, and introducing the Forest Laws. These changes didn’t just affect migrants; they transformed how England was ruled and organised.

Migrants also reshaped religion, culture, and daily life. The Normans rebuilt the English Church with new architecture, clergy, and influence from continental Europe. Through the Church, they spread Latin learning, introduced new festivals, and strengthened the role of monasteries in society. Language and law were also shaped by Viking and Norman influence. These examples show that migrant groups were not just present. They were key drivers of change in Medieval England.

Medieval government

Viking influence

• The most important feature of the Danelaw was the “thing”

  • This was a Viking-style assembly where free men met to:

    • discuss laws

    • settle disputes

    • make decisions

• These assemblies promoted local justice, with a focus on community responsibility and public decision-making

Norman influence

Parliament

• The Normans also developed the early structure of Parliament

  • It began as a royal council of lords and bishops

    • This evolved over time what we now call the House of Lords and House of Commons

  • Though it was not democratic, this marked the start of representative government in England

Forest laws

• These laws protected royal hunting grounds

• They forbade people from hunting, farming, or building in “forest” land

  • This was even if they had lived on the land before

• Breaking forest laws could lead to:

  • heavy fines

  • mutilation

  • imprisonment

• Forest laws mostly affected poor Saxons

Other Medieval laws affecting migrants

Letters of Denization, 1370

• The Crown began issuing Letters of Denization

  • These were legal documents that gave foreign-born individuals limited rights, such as the ability to:

    • own land

    • trade

    • inherit property

• Denizens were still considered different from English subjects and often paid higher taxes

Tax on “aliens”, 1440

• This was a payment that foreign residents had to make simply because they were not born in England

• This tax marked one of the earliest examples of migration control for financial gain

• It showed growing efforts to manage migrant populations through law

Norman migrants & the Church

• After 1066, the Normans restructured the Church

  • The Normans replaced most Anglo-Saxon archbishops and bishops

  • The Church built cathedrals in strategically important places like Chichester and Salisbury, financed by Jewish moneylenders

  • Reforms revived monasteries, especially in the North

    • Monasteries became centres of learning, medicine, and record-keeping

  • The English Church became more in-line with rest of Christendom by having a strong hierarchy

    • Parish priests had the least power

    • Archbishops had the most power

Medieval houses

• Attacks by Vikings led to the development of burhs

  • This introduced new building techniques and layouts suited for trade and defence

• The Normans:

  • Built over 500 castles within decades of the conquest

    • Many of these castle still stand today, such as the Tower of London and Dover Castle

  • Replaced wooden structures with stone

    • This made Norman buildings stronger against attackers

• Migrants contributed to the growth of medieval towns and ports

  • Flemish weavers brought wealth to East Anglia

  • Hansa merchants developed ports in London and Kings Lynn

Medieval culture

Language

• Norse words from the Vikings entered everyday English (e.g. “sky,” “egg,” “knife,” “husband”)

• The Normans made French the official language of England until 1362

• Middle English developed in Medieval times

  • This was a mix of Norman French and Saxon English

• Jewish migrants also brought new vocabulary and concepts, such as 'kosher' and 'synagogue.'

The feudal system

• The feudal system influenced almost every part of life:

  • Housing: Lords lived in castles or manor houses, while peasants lived in small, basic cottages on the land they worked

  • Farming: Peasants were required to farm the lord’s land and give a share of their produce as rent or tax

  • Loyalty: People owed loyalty and service to the king as he owned all of the land

  • Justice: Legal disputes were often settled by the local lord, not in a royal court, meaning justice was deeply tied to landownership and power

Religion and celebrations

• Religious festivals such as Easter, Christmas, and local saints' days became key parts of the year

  • These were celebrated with feasts, plays, and public gatherings

• Pilgrimages to holy sites became important acts of devotion, attracting people from all backgrounds

  • A key example of this was Canterbury, after the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170