Migration and settlement (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Notes
Migration and settlement in mediaeval England (c800-c1500)
Introduction
During the mediaeval period, England experienced significant waves of migration from various groups across Europe. Vikings, Normans, Jews, and skilled European workers all chose to settle in England for different reasons, but they were all drawn by England's wealth, resources, and opportunities. These migrations fundamentally shaped English society, law, culture, and economy.
Mediaeval migration to England wasn't random - each group was strategically attracted by specific economic, political, or social opportunities that England offered during different periods.
Viking migration and settlement (c789-c965)
Early Viking raids and motivations
The Vikings began raiding England around 789, targeting coastal villages, towns, monasteries, and abbeys. These raids were not random acts of violence but strategic attacks motivated by economic opportunities. The Vikings knew that monasteries and abbeys contained valuable treasures, goods, and merchandise that could be stolen or ransomed back to their owners. Additionally, they could capture people to sell as slaves or demand ransom payments for their release.
The Great Army and permanent settlement
The nature of Viking activity changed dramatically in 865 when the Viking Great Army landed in East Anglia. Unlike earlier raiders who came to steal and leave, this army came to settle permanently in England. They recognised that England's fertile soils could provide the agricultural land they needed to establish lasting communities.
The key turning point in Viking-English relations was the shift from raiding (short-term attacks for wealth) to settlement (permanent occupation for land and long-term prosperity). This transformation began with the Great Army in 865.
The Vikings' military success continued in 866 when they captured York, using it as a strategic base for defeating the kingdoms of Northumbria, East Anglia, and Mercia. This marked the beginning of permanent Viking settlement rather than temporary raiding.
The establishment of the Danelaw
A crucial turning point came in 878 when Alfred of Wessex (the last remaining Saxon kingdom) and Guthrum, the Viking leader, signed the Treaty of Wedmore. This agreement established that Viking migrants would control a large portion of England, governing it according to their own laws rather than Saxon traditions.
The Danelaw was the part of England controlled by Viking migrants who ran it using their own laws rather than Saxon legal traditions. This represented a significant compromise that allowed both cultures to coexist within England.
Norman migration and settlement (1066 onwards)
The Norman Conquest
The Normans, originally from Normandy in northern France, invaded England in 1066 under the leadership of Duke William. Their motivation for conquest stemmed from a succession dispute - William believed he had been promised the English throne by both Edward the Confessor and Harold Godwinson. However, when Edward died, Harold became king instead, leading William to view this as a broken promise.
The Normans also received papal support for their invasion because the Pope backed their claim to the throne. Additionally, England's wealth, fertile soil, and established trading networks made it an attractive target for conquest and settlement.
The Battle of Hastings and its aftermath
The Norman Conquest: A Complete Transformation
Step 1: The Invasion (1066)
- William's army crossed the English Channel with papal blessing
- They landed on the English coast ready for battle
Step 2: The Battle of Hastings
- Norman forces defeated Harold Godwinson's Saxon army
- Harold was killed in battle, ending Saxon resistance
Step 3: Establishing Control
- William was crowned king on Christmas Day 1066
- Norman nobles and merchants migrated to claim English lands
Following their conquest, Norman nobles and merchants migrated to England to claim land and take advantage of the trade routes that had been developed by the Saxons and Vikings. This created a new ruling class that would fundamentally change English society, law, and culture.
Jewish migration and settlement
William I's invitation to Jewish moneylenders
William I's ambitious plans for England required substantial financial resources, particularly for building castles and cathedrals. However, Christians were forbidden from lending money and charging interest (called usury) because the Catholic Church considered it sinful. This created a practical problem - how could major construction projects be financed?
Usury was the practice of charging interest on loans, which was regarded as a sin by the Catholic Church. This religious restriction created a unique economic opportunity for Jewish communities who were permitted to engage in moneylending.
William's solution was to turn to Jewish people in Normandy, whom he had previously borrowed money from. Jews were permitted to charge interest on loans, making them valuable financial partners for royal projects.
Jewish settlement and special status
In 1070, invited by William, Jewish families arrived in London and were granted special status as 'the property of the king'. This designation provided them with royal protection while also making their economic activities directly beneficial to the crown. Jewish families quickly established themselves and created a small but important community in the city, specialising in moneylending and banking services.
The "special status" given to Jews meant they were considered the personal property of the king. While this provided royal protection, it also made them completely dependent on royal favour and vulnerable to changes in royal policy.
The expulsion of Jewish communities
The situation for Jewish communities deteriorated over time due to increasing antisemitic attitudes. Henry III attempted to replace Jewish moneylenders with Christians, and by the 1200s, antisemitic feelings were becoming more common throughout English society. Eventually, powerful Italian banking families (the Bardi and Medici) moved to London to work as bankers under royal protection, ultimately replacing the Jewish financial community.
Skilled workers from Europe
Economic disruption and opportunity
European skilled workers migrated to England during this period due to several interconnected factors that created both push and pull forces for migration.
The Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War significantly disrupted work and trade, particularly in France. This conflict made it difficult for skilled craftsmen and merchants to maintain their livelihoods in war-torn regions. Meanwhile, England remained relatively stable, offering better opportunities for those with valuable skills.
The Black Death's impact
The Black Death (1348-1351) killed approximately 30-40% of England's population, creating severe labour shortages across the country. This demographic catastrophe meant there was high demand for both skilled and unskilled workers. The reduced population also created opportunities for survivors to establish new businesses and fill economic gaps left by the massive death toll.
The Black Death created a paradoxical situation: while it caused immense human suffering, it also created economic opportunities for survivors and immigrants who could fill the gaps left by the deceased population.
Royal recruitment
Henry III actively sought to replace Jewish moneylenders with Christian alternatives, leading him to invite powerful Italian banking families to England. These Italian bankers brought sophisticated financial knowledge and international connections that proved valuable to the English economy.
Timeline of major migration events
- c789: Vikings begin raiding England
- 865: Viking Great Army lands in East Anglia seeking permanent settlement
- 866: Vikings capture York and establish it as a base
- 878: Treaty of Wedmore establishes the Danelaw
- 1066: Norman Conquest - Battle of Hastings, William crowned king
- 1070: Jewish families invited to London by William I
- 1200s: Italian banking families migrate to England
- 1348-1351: Black Death creates labour shortages, encouraging European migration
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
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Viking migration evolved from raiding to settlement - What began as economic raids transformed into permanent settlement when the Great Army arrived in 865, ultimately establishing the Danelaw through the Treaty of Wedmore in 878.
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The Norman Conquest brought a complete change of ruling class - The 1066 invasion led by William wasn't just a military victory but a fundamental transformation of English society, bringing Norman nobles, merchants, and administrative systems.
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Economic needs drove royal migration policies - William I invited Jewish moneylenders because Christians couldn't charge interest, while Henry III later recruited Italian bankers, showing how economic necessities shaped migration patterns.
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External crises created migration opportunities - The Hundred Years' War disrupted European economies while the Black Death created severe labour shortages in England, making it an attractive destination for skilled workers seeking better opportunities.
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All migrant groups were attracted by England's wealth and resources - Whether Vikings seeking treasure, Normans wanting fertile land, Jews offering financial services, or European workers filling labour gaps, England's prosperity made it a magnet for mediaeval migration.