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Index

Chapter 1. Background Page 4 & 5, 6 & 7

Chapter 2. Hastings
Page 8 & 9, 10 &11

Chapter 3. Doomsday
Page 12 &13, 14 & 15

Index

Background

It was a hot summer in London. With a population of around 14000 people, at the beginning of 11th century London was a prosperous medieval city, whose economy was based on the cultivation of barley and wheat. Moreover, religious orders such as the Augustinian became major players in the trade of wool. In general England was more than self-sufficient in cereals, beef and dairy products, with its economy resembling that of London. The ruling class of this large and successful system was formed by Anglo-Saxon noblemen who swore loyalty to the family, or clan. The individual nature of this corporations led to a division of

England into seven kingdoms, a situation commonly called Heptarchy. However this system began falling when Scandinavian populations, which were called Danes by the Anglo-Saxons, started occupying the northeast of England by the early years of 9th century. For about 200 years the Anglo- Saxons attempted to keep the invaders out of Wessex, the most important kingdom. Eventually in 991,when the Anglo-Saxon paid money to be left alone it became clear that Saxon England was collapsing. Despite this, during 11th century a lot of kings tried to contain the Danish invasion: for instance Harold, William the Confessor's successor

Background

England into seven kingdoms, a situation commonly called Heptarchy. However this system began falling when Scandinavian populations, which were called Danes by the Anglo-Saxons, started occupying the northeast of England by the early years of 9th century. For about 200 years the Anglo- Saxons attempted to keep the invaders out of Wessex, the most important kingdom. Eventually in 991,when the Anglo-Saxon paid money to be left alone it became clear that Saxon England was collapsing. Despite this, during 11th century a lot of kings tried to contain the Danish invasion: for instance Harold, William the Confessor's successor

fought the Vikings in several occasions and he managed to defeat them, before marching south to meet Wiliam, duke of Normandy...

Harold II, last Anglo-Saxon king of England