Black figure on illuminated initial from Abbreviato of The Domesday Book Catalogue Ref: E36/284 f.19
This document was made in the thirteenth century, to help officials of the King’s Exchequer when consulting the original Domesday Book.
Discuss the following questions:
- Describe what can you see in this source.
- When do you think it was made? Why do you think this?
- Who do you think the man is?
- How is he dressed?
- Do you think he is important? Why/ why not?
- Why might the person who created this source, have drawn a Black man on this page? What can it tell us about the people living in Britain at this time?