The Anglo-Norman period effectively started in 1066, when William the Conqueror invaded and subdued England with his Norman knights. Previously, most people in England, whether commoners or nobles, were Anglo-Saxons. After the Norman conquest, the ruling class became almost exclusively Norman. This means the Normans replaced native Englishmen in the higher levels of society. Now there was both an ethnic/cultural and economic division between commoners and aristocrats: Anglo-Saxons were still populous but all under the thumb of their Norman rulers.

There was also a great linguistic shift. The English language evolved greatly during this time, as the influence of French—a Latin language—inserted itself into English. Until this point English had mainly been made up of Anglo-Saxon words, but now Latin-based words began to take over. This is particularly noticeable in the different levels of language. Everyday, common items, such as cow, hut, book, or grass, are Anglo-Saxon words. However, more sophisticated ideas, particularly when related to culture or government, likely have a French origin: literature, castle, beautiful, and monarchy are examples of this. So, a clear division appeared between the Norman elites and their Anglo-Saxon commoners based on this linguistic evolution as well.

The Normans did create a lot of lasting change during this time. They introduced continental European ideas and culture to the island nation, built castles, and set up a ruling system that endured for many years. Also, due to their French connections, there was increased exchange between England and the Continent. All of this should be taken into consideration when thinking about the Anglo-Norman period.

What were the social, literary, linguistic, religious, and political features of the Anglo-Norman period?

The Anglo-Norman period refers to the period just after the Norman conquest of England by William the Conqueror. The most distinctive feature of this period was the existence of a Norman French aristocracy and an Anglo-Saxon populace.

Linguistically, Old English or Anglo-Saxon acquired loan words and changed pronunciation and structure due to Norman influence, leading to the transition to Middle English. Accentual Anglo-Saxon poetry fused with French syllabic traditions to create accentual-syllabic meter.

In terms of religion, the Roman Catholic Church was dominant, and the language of the Church and education was Latin. The English Church during this period wrestled with the issue of church temporalities and the respective rights of Pope and king in determining their use.

The main social structure was feudal, with nobles being vassals of the king and having their own vassals in turn. There was a constant struggle for power between the king and nobles, reflected in signing of the Magna Carta.