It is Domesday Book, not Doomsday book! The Domesday book was unprecedented historically, as it was the first major census to be carried out in the relatively barbarous medieval area of North West Europe. Begun by William the Conqueror, it was essentially a huge exercise in tax collection. William, having conquered England in 1066 probably for the purpose of using it for revenue to fight wars on the continent (this has been disputed by some historians), wanted to take register of the country – his winnings – down to the last detail.
doomsday book, fournitures de bureau
However, the domesday book was a tremendous administrative triumph and signals a change in the way kingship and nationhood were regarded in 11th century England.