Domesday Mini-Research Activity
The Domesday Book was commissioned in December 1085 by William the Conqueror, who invaded England in
1066. The first draft was completed in August 1086 and contained records for 13,418 settlements in the
English counties south of the rivers Ribble and Tees (the border with Scotland at the time). The original
Domesday Book has survived over 900 years of English history and is currently housed in a specially made
chest at The National Archives in Kew, London. The Domesday Book gives us an insight into life at the time
of its compilation. To learn more about the Domesday Book go to: http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/
GOAL: Using Microsoft Publisher, create an 8 page booklet describing life in 14th century England
(the setting of Crispin). In order to complete this project you MUST do the following:
DUE DATE: _____ Fill out the note-taking chart using at least TWO sources PER
subtopic. At least ONE of your sources MUST be a book.
DUE DATE: _____ Complete the outline (see the below) using your own paper. Use proper
outlining technique.
DUE DATE: _____ Write a section (several well-written and documented paragraphs) for
EACH of the topics listed below along with ONE topic of your choosing.
Find pictures or graphics that correlate and include those.
Create a Works Cited page using OSLIS and include that on the last page.
Your booklet MUST contain a well-written section (using facts and internal citations) from your
research for each topic in the following outline. Fill in subtopics from your research for the
letters that support your findings about the topic listed. Add more letters for additional details.
Use the numbers below to elaborate. You may add more numbers for more elaboration. Each
topic is limited to two pages of your booklet.
I.
The Feudal System
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
II.
The Church
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
III.
Your Choice of Subtopic (see below)
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
Possible choices: housing, clothing, medicine and diseases, food and cooking, arts and entertainment, weapons and warfare, or see Mrs.
Shirk with another idea.
Use this website with links to get started: http://www.cumbavac.org/Middle_Ages.htm
RESEARCH CHART: You should use this chart for the first subtopic (feudal life) and then make two more
using your own paper for your other two subtopics.
SUBTOPIC: FEUDAL LIFE
SOURCE
PAGE
OUTLINE
FACT
INFORMATION
LETTER OR
(Write in your own words; do NOT plagiarize!)
NUMBER
REMEMBER TO USE THE OSLIS WEBSITE (see Public Drive/Shirk/Research) TO CREATE YOUR WORKS CITED FOR THE SOURCES
THAT YOU USE IN YOUR PROJECT.