Chapter 1: Migration in Medieval England

Question 1

Anglo-Saxon

Answer 1

People who migrated from Europe and lived in England from the 5th century.

Question 2

Viking

Answer 2

People from the Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden and Denmark) who raided and finally invaded England in the 9th century.

Question 3

Wessex

Answer 3

An Anglo-Saxon kingdom established in southern England in 519.

Question 4

Fertile

Answer 4

Land that is able to support farming and the growing of food.

Question 5

Fortified

Answer 5

Surrounded by defences against possible attacks.

Question 6

Succession

Answer 6

The process that decided who should be the next king or queen and so ‘succeed’ to the throne.

Question 7

Witan

Answer 7

An Anglo-Saxon assembly of ‘wise-men’ - nobles and clergy (churchmen) summoned by the king to advise him.

Question 8

The Pope

Answer 8

The leader of the Christian church. The pope was based in Rome, Italy.

Question 9

The Old Testament

Answer 9

The first part of the Bible.

Question 10

Diaspora

Answer 10

The scattering of a population that had once lived in one place.

Question 11

Usury

Answer 11

Charging interest on a loan; in medieval times Christians were told by the pope that was a sin.

Question 12

Synagogue

Answer 12

A building where Jewish people met for worship and teaching.

Question 13

Black Death

Answer 13

A pandemic more accurately called the bubonic plague, it reached England in 1348, killing between 30% and 60% of the population.

Question 14

Guild

Answer 14

An association of merchants or tradesmen who all work in the same trade. The guild works to create local rules for its members. You had to be a member of your trade’s guild to sell your goods or services.

Question 15

Jarldom

Answer 15

A large area of land ruled by a jarl (a king or an earl)

Question 16

Saga

Answer 16

A story, usually told and sometimes written down, that mixes hsitory and mythology.

Question 17

Things

Answer 17

Regional and local meeting held by important families where laws were made and criminal disputes were settled.

Question 18

Danegeld

Answer 18

Money paid to the Saxons to the Danes in order to make them stay away.

Question 19

Earldom

Answer 19

A large area of land ruled by an earl.

Question 20

Jewries

Answer 20

Separate areas of towns and cities where Jews lived.

Question 21

Kehila

Answer 21

Jewish community council.

Question 22

Kosher

Answer 22

Food that is prepared according to Jewish laws.

Question 23

Anti-Semitism

Answer 23

Hostility to, and prejudice against Jewish people.

Question 24

Crusade

Answer 24

A series of European military expenditures in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries to take the Holy Land back from Muslims.

Question 25

Hanseatic League

Answer 25

An organisation of north German towns and German merchant communities that traded in northern Europe. the League dominated commercial activity in northern Europe from the 13th century to the 15th century.

Question 26

Customs tariff

Answer 26

A tax placed on goods that are imported or exported in or out of a country.

Question 27

Craft guilds

Answer 27

Craftsmen such as weavers and bakers, goldsmiths and candlemakers had their own guilds. There were organisations that set prices, wages and standards of work.

Question 28

Peasants’ Revolt

Answer 28

In 1381, thousands of English peasants rebelled, demanding freedom from their lords and higher wages.

Question 29

Geld

Answer 29

This land tax was the most important tax in Saxon England.

Question 30

Shire

Answer 30

A division of land in Saxon England.

Question 31

Hundred

Answer 31

In Saxon England, shires were divided into smaller areas called hundreds.

Question 32

Hierarchy

Answer 32

A system where members are ranked according to their status and authority.

Question 33

Ransom

Answer 33

A sum of money demanded for the release of a captive.

Question 34

Dowry

Answer 34

The money, land and/or goods that a woman’s family gives to her husband’s family when she marries.

Question 35

Pawnbroker

Answer 35

A person who lends money in exchange for an article.

Question 36

Mint

Answer 36

A place that legally produces coins.