Anglo Saxon Society

Question 1

How many people lived in Anglo Saxon England?

Answer 1

Around 2 Million

Question 2

Define an ‘Anglo Saxon’

Answer 2

Settlers in England after the Romans left

Question 3

Define ‘Aristocracy’

Answer 3

People in society seen as wealthy because of their (often inherited) wealth and power

Question 4

How many thegns were there?

Answer 4

4000 to 5000

Question 5

How much land did a thegn hold?

Answer 5

5 hides of land (1 hide = 120 acres so around 600 acres)

Question 6

Why were slaves sometimes not punished as harshly as ordinary people?

Answer 6

It was realised that it could’ve affected their ability to work

Question 7

Who did peasants ‘rent’ land from?

Answer 7

Thegns

Question 8

What % of the population were slaves?

Answer 8

Around 10%

Question 9

What was special/different about ceorls?

Answer 9

They were free to work for any thegn, moving around when they wanted to and not tied down to any specific person

Question 10

Who did Earls come second to?

Answer 10

The King

Question 11

What Danish word does Earl come from?

Question 12

What was the land ruled by an earl called?

Question 13

What were the names of the 5 Earldoms?

Question 14

What two Earldoms were completely in the Danelaw?

Question 15

What Earldom was both inside and outside of the Danelaw?

Question 16

What did a peasant need to do to become a thegn?

Question 17

What did a merchant need to do to be classed as a thegn?

Answer 17

Make a number of trips abroad on their own ships

Question 18

Thegns could become ___, who had a rare (but never 0) possibility of becoming ___.

Answer 18

Earls; King