What mistakes do students make with Changing definitions of crime as a result of the Norman…?

Claiming the Forest Laws only banned hunting. Note that the Forest Laws also criminalised gathering wood, foraging, and grazing animals in royal forests. Stating that the Murdrum fine was paid to the victim's family. Explain that the Murdrum fine was paid directly to the King, unlike the Saxon Wergild. Assuming crime definitions remained static after 1066. Emphasise that William I actively changed definitions of crime to assert his authority and raise revenue.

Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History

Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016

C1000–c1500: Crime and punishment in medieval England - 1 Nature and…

Full specification wording

Option 10: c1000–c1500: Crime and punishment in medieval England - 1 Nature and changing definitions of criminal activity: Changing definitions of crime as a result of the Norman Conquest, including William I’s Forest Laws.

The Norman Conquest of 1066 brought significant changes to the definition of crime, as William I used the law to establish control over a hostile Anglo-Saxon population.

Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on 24 September 2026.

Point 2 of 2
2 key terms

Study notes

From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

The idea

What earns the marks

Explain that the Norman Conquest led to laws designed to protect the new Norman ruling class.
Describe the Forest Laws and how they changed the definition of crime by criminalising traditional peasant rights.
Identify specific activities banned by the Forest Laws, such as hunting deer or cutting firewood in royal forests.
Explain the Murdrum fine as a new definition of crime where the community was held responsible for the murder of a Norman.
Analyse how these changing definitions of crime increased resentment among the Anglo-Saxon population.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

Claiming the Forest Laws only banned hunting.
Put it right: Note that the Forest Laws also criminalised gathering wood, foraging, and grazing animals in royal forests.
Stating that the Murdrum fine was paid to the victim's family.
Put it right: Explain that the Murdrum fine was paid directly to the King, unlike the Saxon Wergild.
Assuming crime definitions remained static after 1066.
Put it right: Emphasise that William I actively changed definitions of crime to assert his authority and raise revenue.

Exam tips

Use the Forest Laws as a prime example of how a change in government (the Norman Conquest) directly changes what is defined as a crime.
Link the introduction of new crimes to William I's need to control a rebellious Anglo-Saxon population.
Contrast the Norman approach to crime with the previous Anglo-Saxon system to highlight the changes.

Try the lesson

The start of the Option 10: c1000–c1500: Crime and punishment in medieval England - 1 Nature and changing definitions of criminal activity: Changing definitions of crime as a result of the Norman Conquest, including William I’s Forest Laws. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

Have a go first

What was the primary purpose of the Forest Laws introduced by William I after the Norman Conquest?

Tip: press 1 to 4 to choose

Listen

The Norman Conquest of 1066 brought significant changes to the definition of crime, as William I used the law to establish control over a hostile Anglo-Saxon population. A major shift was the introduction of the Forest Laws, which declared vast tracts of English woodland as royal forests. This criminalised previously legal activities for peasants, such as hunting deer, cutting wood, or grazing animals. The Forest Laws were deeply resented and transformed everyday survival activities into serious offences against royal authority. Additionally, the Normans introduced the Murdrum fine, which redefined the murder of a Norman as a crime for which the entire local community was heavily fined, reinforcing Norman dominance. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explain that the Norman Conquest led to laws designed to protect the new Norman ruling class. Describe the Forest Laws and how they changed the definition of crime by criminalising traditional peasant rights. Identify specific activities banned by the Forest Laws, such as hunting deer or cutting firewood in royal forests. Explain the Murdrum fine as a new definition of crime where the community was held responsible for the murder of a Norman. A common slip: Claiming the Forest Laws only banned hunting. Instead, Note that the Forest Laws also criminalised gathering wood, foraging, and grazing animals in royal forests. Exam tip: Use the Forest Laws as a prime example of how a change in government (the Norman Conquest) directly changes what is defined as a crime.

See it

A flowchart beginning with the Norman Conquest of 1066, which leads to William I using the law to establish control. From this, two branches emerge: the Forest Laws and the Murdrum fine. The Forest Laws branch leads to vast tracts of woodland being declared royal forests, which criminalised previously legal peasant activities, shown as three items: hunting deer, cutting wood and grazing animals. The Murdrum fine branch leads to the murder of a Norman becoming a crime for which the whole local community was heavily fined. All three criminalised activities and the Murdrum fine lead to deep resentment among the Anglo-Saxon population. — Shows how the Norman Conquest led William I to change definitions of crime through the Forest Laws and the Murdrum fine, and how this caused resentment.

Key words

Say what each word means before you turn the card.

Forest Laws

Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

Murdrum fine

Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

See every definition

Forest Laws: These declared vast tracts of English woodland as royal forests, criminalising previously legal activities for peasants such as hunting deer, cutting wood or grazing animals.
Murdrum fine: This redefined the murder of a Norman as a crime for which the entire local community was heavily fined, reinforcing Norman dominance.

Label the diagram

Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A flowchart beginning with the Norman Conquest of 1066, which leads to William I using the law to establish control. From this, two branches emerge: the Forest Laws and the Murdrum fine. The Forest Laws branch leads to vast tracts of woodland being declared royal forests, which criminalised previously legal peasant activities, shown as three items: hunting deer, cutting wood and grazing animals. The Murdrum fine branch leads to the murder of a Norman becoming a crime for which the whole local community was heavily fined. All three criminalised activities and the Murdrum fine lead to deep resentment among the Anglo-Saxon population.

1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3

0 of 3 labelled

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