C+P Medieval England complete Flashcards
What time period was Medieval England?
c1000-c1500
What were the three types of crime?
Crimes against:
Person
Property
Authority
Name the two ‘New’ crimes in Norman England.
William 1st forest laws
Murdrum fine
Name some of William’s forest laws
- About 30% of England became ‘Royal Forest’ which only William and the Normans used for hunting unless you paid William for hunting rights.
- It was illegal in Royal Forests to graze animals, kill wild animals and take wood without a licence.
- Village communities and farms were evicted from this land which caused resentment.
Name some features of William’s murdrum fine
Helped establish control over conquered population.
If an Anglo-Saxon murdered a Norman and culprit not caught a large sum of money had to be paid by the area in which the body was found.
Example of ruling classes benefiting themselves.
What is a ‘hundred’?
An area of land.
Why was crime fairly low in c-1000 in the Anglo-Saxon society?
It was low because most people believed they had a strong sense of duty towards their community.
Name the four types of Anglo-Saxon law enforcement.
Tithings Hue and Cry Courts Oaths Deciding guilt or innocence
What were tithings?
A tithing was a group of 10 men who were all responsible for each others actions and this is how they kept their order.
One of the men would regularly meet with the Shire Reeve.
What is a hue and cry?
A victim/witness to a crime would raise a hue and cry by shouting to alert other. Anyone who heard this was expected to chase and help catch the suspected criminal.
What are courts?
Name the three different types.
Courts were used if a suspect did not admit to a crime
- Royal courts dealt with the most serious crimes
- Shire courts dealt with lesser crimes
- Petty crimes dealt with in hundred courts
What were oaths?
Swearing oaths ‘before God’ was a major part of the Anglo-Saxon justice system. The accused gained support if they swore an oath.
What was deciding guilt or innocence?
If the jury couldn’t decide the accused was handed over to the Church so God could decide a person’s guilt or innocence in a trial by ordeal.
What continued from the Anglo-Saxon to Norman era in law enforcement?
Tithings, hue and cry and the court system. Normans kept this role of responsibility for the community.
What changed from the Anglo-Saxon to Norman era in law enforcement? (2 things)
Normans introduced:
- Trial by combat (two people involved in dispute would fight it out and only one would come out alive)
- Forest Laws introduced ‘foresters’ to police the forest.
