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GCSE HISTORY - Anglo Saxon and Norman England > Anglo-Saxon society > Flashcards

Anglo-Saxon society Flashcards

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1
Q

In anglo-saxon england , who was the most powerful

A

The King

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2
Q

What did AS kings do to govern the country

A

They granted out some of their power to earls and took advice from the witan council

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3
Q

What were the powers of AS kings ?

A

Law making , land ownership , religion , taxation , money and the fyrd

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4
Q

What did half the country being anglo danish and having their own danelaw mean for the king

A

He had to allow Danelaw some independence but still had control over them

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5
Q

What was the Witan ?

A

A council that advised the king but didn’t limit his powers

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6
Q

What powers did the king have over the witan?

A

He decided who was appointed to the witan , decided what he should be advised on and didn’t follow their advice if he so wished

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7
Q

What were earls ?

A

Earls were the most important men after the king and governed large areas of land on the kings behalf

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8
Q

What powers of the king were earls granted ?

A

Collecting taxes from their earldoms , overseeing laws and military powers .

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9
Q

How much of the collected tax could earls keep

A

one third

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10
Q

What were the advantages of Edward the confessor ?

A

He was religious and people believed god was guiding him , respected as a wise law maker and married to the rich daughter of Earl Godwin

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11
Q

Who was Edward the confessor married to ?

A

Edith , the daughter of wealthy Earl Godwin

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12
Q

What are the disadvantages of Edward the confessor ?

A

He was exiled for most of his life , so had few supporters in England . He also had no heirs and struggled to control Earl Godwin

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13
Q

What were Thegns and what could they do ?

A

Thegns we’re local lords who could complain to the king about earls who governed earldoms badly

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14
Q

Who were the Shire Reeves (sheriffs) ?

A

The kings representatives in local government

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15
Q

What were the responsibilities of the Shire Reeves ?

A

To collect revenues and geld tax from shires . Collect fines from and enforce laws in shire court . Maintain roads/defences and make sure men are provided for the fyrd

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16
Q

How was the division of land structured in AS england ?

A

Each earldom divided into shires , each shire divided into hundreds and each hundred divided into tithings

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17
Q

How big was a hide ?

A

An area of land covering 120 acres

18
Q

what were ceorls ?

A

peasant farmers

19
Q

What was a writ ?

A

written orders from the king with a royal seal

20
Q

What were the strengths and weaknesses of AS government ?

A

+ Depended on everyone in the community knowing each other very well

  • Powerless to prevent powerful men from breaking the law
21
Q

What was collective responsibility ?

A

If one member of a tithing broke the law , the rest were responsible for bringing him to court or were punished themselves

22
Q

What was Hue and Cry ?

A

Where everyone in the community would cooperate to track down a criminal , the sheriff could call up on them in the same way

23
Q

What was the Wergild ?

A

The compensation paid to avoid blood feuds

24
Q

What was a Trial by Ordeal ?

A

Where god would be asked to judge cases were courts couldn’t decide .

25
Q

Why did England have a strong economy ?

A
  • There was a good climate for farming especially in the south and the east
  • Strong trade links across north sea and Scandinavia
  • efficient tax system and the central control of money meant money could keep value
26
Q

In 1060 how was the population distributed ?

A
  • 4000-6000 were thegns
  • 10% we’re slaves and the rest were ceorls ( peasant farmers)
27
Q

Generally , how much land did thegns own ?

A

5 hides of land or more

28
Q

What were Burhs ?

A

The main fortified town of each shire where all significant trade had to be carried out in by law , which would then be taxed

29
Q

Why and how were Burhs fortified ?

A

Strong walls and ramparts made cheaply and quickly out of wood , would make it difficult to attack by parties of raiding vikings

30
Q

How much of the population lived in burhs as opposed to the country side ?

A

10% of the population lived in burhs in 1060 , everyone else lived in the country side

31
Q

What were the 5 key features of the anglo saxon church ?

A
32
Q

what did the flexibility of AS society mean for social roles ?

A

Peasants who did well could become thegns if they acquired more than 5 hides and peasants who did badly could sell themselves into slavery

33
Q

What were the capabilities and expectations of thegns ?

A

They could afford weapons and armour so they were expected to always be ready to serve their lord in battle

34
Q

Which earldom was wessex typically hostile with ?

A

Earldom of Mercia

35
Q

What were the names of Earl Godwins sons ?

A

Gyrth , leofwine , Harold and Tostig Godwinson

36
Q

When and what earldom did Tostig become earl to ?

A

Northumbria in 1055

37
Q

When and what earldom did Gyrth Godwinson become earl to ?

A

East Anglia in 1057

38
Q

When and what land did Leofwine godwinson rule ?

A

several smaller shires from 1055-1057

39
Q

When and what land did Leofwin e rule ?

A

several smaller shires in 1055-57

40
Q

When did Harold Godwinson become Earl of Wessex and why ?

A

In 1053 after the death if his father Earl Godwin

41
Q

The House of Godwin increased its power and influence by political marriages , what were they ?

A

-Earl Godwins daughter Edith married to Edward the Conf ‘

  • Harold married Edith of Mercia
    and Edith the Fair who was influential in East Anglia

-Tostig and Judith , daughter of Baldwin of Flanders

42
Q

What was Edward the confessors relations with the House of Godwin ?

A

In the 1050s , he tried to free himself from their dominance and asked his friend in Normandy for help , it is said to be the place where he promised the throne to William

GCSE HISTORY - Anglo Saxon and Norman England (1 decks)

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