- Cultural Differences: The Normans were a French-speaking people, while the English were Anglo-Saxon. This language barrier created communication difficulties and cultural misunderstandings. The Normans also introduced their own customs and laws, which were different from the English traditions.
- Political Dominance: The Norman conquest led to a significant shift in the power structure of England. The Normans took control of the government, the church, and the land, leaving many English nobles and landowners feeling dispossessed and resentful.
- Economic Exploitation: The Normans imposed heavy taxes on the English population and often seized their property. This economic exploitation led to widespread poverty and resentment.
- Social Inequality: The Normans created a feudal system in England, which divided society into distinct social classes. The Normans were at the top of the social hierarchy, while the English were mostly serfs or peasants with limited rights and opportunities.
- Violence and Repression: The Norman conquest was marked by violence and brutality. The Normans suppressed any resistance with an iron fist, leading to fear and hatred among the English.
Overall, the English resentment towards the Normans stemmed from a combination of cultural, political, economic, social, and psychological factors. It took several generations for the tensions between the two groups to subside and for a sense of unity to emerge in English society.