9.3 to what extent was there a cultural revolution during athelred's reign?

Question 1

What is the biggest cause of culture change?
Is culture a fixed concept?
What does Aethelred realise? How?

Answer 1

Colonisation
No
He needs to defend English culture by 1005, does thus by embarking on ‘cultural revolution’

Question 2

What did Aethelred do to create a cultural revolution?

Answer 2

Made his own law codes

Question 3

Who else, apart from Aethelred, helped cutural revolution?

Answer 3

Wulfstan, Aelfric, Aethelweard

Question 4

What was the background to Aethelred’s law codes?
Why did he need to introduce a new law code? (4)

Answer 4

Aethelred is the biggest legal reformer, before him, little changed in governance
To gain peace and stability within his kingdom, to boost trade and the economy, make legal system more efficient, strengthen rule of the Church

Question 5

What are the important sections in Aethelred’s law codes?

Answer 5

Aethelred II
Aethelred III
Aethelred V
Aethelred VII
Aethelred VIII

Question 6

What was the purpose of Aethelred II

Answer 6

Dealt with the calling of a truce between Aethelred and the Vikings
Peace agreement terms involved setting down details about how Saxons and Vikings should treat eachother

Question 7

What was the purpose of Aethelred III

Answer 7

Dealt with the role of thegns and reeves when acting as witnesses and outlines the beginning of a jury system

Question 8

What was the purpose of Aethelred V

Answer 8

Drafted by Archbishop Wulfstan
Stated that if you abided by a moral conduct, God would offer protection against the enemies outside the Kingdom

Question 9

What was the purpose of Aethelred VII

Answer 9

Outlined that the nation needed to starve for 3 days, pay extra tribute for God to help ward off the enemy

Question 10

What was the purpose of Aethelred VIII

Answer 10

Emphasised the importance of the Church
Under Aethelred, the Church had been disregarded and disrespected, he had lost control of law and order

Question 11

What was the significance of the law codes?

Answer 11

Highlighted the importance the King attatched to the role of the Church

Question 12

How many sermons did Wulfstan write?
What was his most famous one?
What did this say about England’s suffering?

Answer 12

Atleast 26
‘Sermo Lupi Ad Anglos’
Dwells on why England suffered because of how religion decreased

Question 13

How do we know Wulfstan had an influence on Aethelred’s law codes?
How do we know he affacted carolingian writing?

Answer 13

His unique prose style was apparant in the law codes
Similarities in the law codes

Question 14

What do other writings of Wulfstan include?

Answer 14

Reveals an interest in local government and it’s relationship with the Church

Question 15

What was Wulfstan’s ‘Cannons of Edgar’ about and for?

Answer 15

Outlined the obligation and outlies of parish priests reinforces of culture

Question 16

What does Aethelweards chronicle contain that is of interest?
In what way is it the first of its kind?

Answer 16

Has access to stuff that the Church doesn’t
First of its kind to be written in English

Question 17

What is important about the view Aethelweard’s chronicle contains?

Answer 17

A non-Church view.
Reflects the independent views of Awethelweard, rather than those of the sponsorers of Chroniclers, who wrote the orignal versions of the ASC

Question 18

Why is Aethelweard’s contribution to cultural change considered significant?

Answer 18

Showed that writers could write free from influence

Question 19

What is evidence to show that Aethelred was a failure? (3)

Answer 19

Crippled the Saxon economy
Couldn’t control his ealdormen
Inexperienced ealdermen

Question 20

What is evidence to show that Aethelred was NOT a failure? (3)

Answer 20

Longest serving
Cultural revolution
Law codes