Anglo-Saxon Monarchy And Government

Question 1

Define danelaw

Answer 1

The area in which Vikings lived and ruled

Question 2

Define burh

Answer 2

A fortified town (surrounded by strong walls)

Question 3

Define earl

Answer 3

The most important group below the king, they were appointed by the king and collected taxes and oversaw law

Question 4

Define earldom

Answer 4

Massive areas of land controlled by earls which consisted of thousands of acres

Question 5

Define shire

Answer 5

A large town in which local people hid and were protected if the area came under attack

Question 6

Define fyrd

Answer 6

The army

Question 7

Define thegn

Answer 7

Local lords who controlled villages on behalf of the king, protected villagers and collected taxes

Question 8

Define ceorl

Answer 8

Free peasants who worked for thegns or earls but were not owned by them

Question 9

Define slave

Answer 9

People who were treated as property as they could be bought and sold

Question 10

Define witan

Answer 10

A council of about 40 men that advised the king which was made up of thegns, bishops and abbots

Question 11

How could a person increase their status?

Answer 11

Pay for it

Question 12

What percentage of the population were slaves?

Answer 12

9.7%

Question 13

What were the four main earldoms?

Answer 13

Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Wessex

Question 14

What did it mean that the thegns were a warrior class?

Answer 14

They could afford weapons and horses and were always expected to be ready to fight

Question 15

What was a ceorl’s life valued at?

Answer 15

200 shillings so this would be paid to his family if he was murdered

Question 16

How did the villagers repay the thegns for protecting them?

Answer 16

By farming the thegns land and paying them with sheep and milk and eggs

Question 17

Give 8 points about the King’s role

Answer 17

By 9th century all Anglo Saxon kingdoms ruled by one king, has the power to make new laws, could give land to his followers or take it away as punishment, raise the fyrd (army), decide when to collect taxes, control creation and distribution of coins, he had to be constantly on the move to control to control his people because his power lay wherever his presence was, Witan (council of 40 men) helped him rule

Question 18

Give 7 points about the role of Earls

Answer 18

Most important group in society after the King himself, controlled an earldom each so were very wealthy, appointed by the king, collected taxes for king, oversaw law and order in earldom, judge cases to decide who was guilty, king’s generals at war (led their followers into battle to protect the king)

Question 19

How were earldoms broken down?

Answer 19

Broken down into shires which each had a burh (large fortified town where people hid if the area came under attack

Question 20

Give 4 points about the role of Thegns

Answer 20

Local lords who each controlled several villages on behalf of the King, offered protection to villagers, served king by collecting taxes, settle disputes to make each village peaceful

Question 21

Give points about the role of ceorls

Answer 21

Depended on thegns for work, expected to fight alongside them for the King if England was attacked