anglo saxon before 1066

Question 1

context

Answer 1

growing towns
vulnerable to disease, war and poor harvests
ongoing conflicts (scottish and vikings)
start of trade in towns
strict social structure

Question 2

role of authority

Answer 2

beliefs in ‘kings peace’ - duty for law and order
communities made own laws
nobles advise king on new laws

Question 3

religion

Answer 3

powerful influence of church - collected taxes
owned 1/5 of wealth in england
belief god had final judgement in trials
huge influence of abbeys and monasteries
central church buildings in all villages

Question 4

crimes / key laws

Answer 4

crime defined as anything that threatened social structure
treason was the worse crime
crimes against person/ property/ authority
king issued ‘codes of law’
moral crimes- drunkness/ adultery

Question 5

law enforcement

Answer 5

tithings and hundreds
collective responsibility
hue and cry
shire reeve appointed by local people/ nobles
religious oath taken to show innocence
trial by jury
trial by ordeal

Question 6

punishments

Answer 6

wergild
stocks and pillory
capital and corporal (eg hanging)
maiming/ fines
mostly deterrence