Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

A-level General study > History - Anglo-Saxon England > Flashcards

History - Anglo-Saxon England Flashcards

key: M1 - Alfred and the Vikings M2 - Alfred and the Governance of England M3 - The revival of literacy and learning, the Alfredian Renaissance M4 - Edward the Elder 899-924 M5 - Athelstan 924-939

1
Q

What is a mint?

A

The place where coins are produced

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is Archaeology?

A

The study of human history through physical sites and remains

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What was Danegeld?

A

Money paid to the Danes to make them leave the Saxons alone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is Frankia?

A

A country with similar territory to modern-day France

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Who was Guthrum?

A

A Viking king who was Alfreds main opposition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What was Lundenwic?

A

Viking London that was slightly above Roman London

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what was a moneyer?

A

A person who makes/mints coins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Who were Ealdormen?

A

High ranking nobles with lots of land

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are Shires?

A

local districts with their own councils to govern and administrate them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a shield wall?

A

A standard military tactic where soldiers stand shoulder to shoulder and interlock shields to improve defence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a Thegn?

A

A landowner beneath Ealdorman that leads armies for their superiors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is a fyrd?

A

A mostly voluntary form of military, that can be called upon when needed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is an Oath?

A

A legally binding promise that carries serious punishment if broken

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the Danelaw?

A

Viking occupied England

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

M1 - What was the percentage of silver in Alfred’s coins?

A

90%+

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What was the Witan?

A

A secular(non-religious) council that are direct advisors to the king

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is a medium

A

The type of source. e.g. newspapers, annals, biography, survey, etc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What were Burhs?

A

Fortified settlements for armed soldiers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

M1 - What happened to version A of the Burghal Hidage?

A

It burned in a fire

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

M1 - Which kingdoms did Alfred unite through marriage?

A

Wessex and Mercia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

M1 - Who married Alfreds daughter Aethelflaed

A

Aethelred of Mercia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

M1 - Where in England was the first place that the Vikings attacked?

A

Lindisfarne

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

M1 - Who wrote ‘Life of Alfred’

A

Asser

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

M1 - When was Alfred born?

A

849

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

M1 - What were the names of Alfreds siblings?

A
  • Aethelstan
  • Aethelbald
  • Aethelberht
  • Aethelred
  • Aethelswith
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

M1 - When was the first Viking attack?

A

793

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

M1 - What disease is it believed that Alfred had?

A

Crohn’s disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

M1 - When was the battle of Ashdown?

A

871

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

M1 - When did the aims of the Vikings shift, and what did they shift to?

A

After 850 - The aims shifted from attacking to settling.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

M1 - Why was Wessex a difficult place to defend?

A

It had a high ratio of border to landmass.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

M1 - Why could Asser be called a reliable source?

A

Because he was a part of Alfred’s court and is likely to have first-hand knowledge about what occurred.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

M1 - Why could Asser be called an unreliable source?

A

Because much of his work is likely to have been exaggerated due to the need to form an alliance with Wales against the Vikings

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

M1 - What baptismal name did Guthrum take?

A

Aethelstan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

M1 - When was the Danelaw made?

A

‘Officially between 886 and 890. But may have been in place as early as 878.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

M1 - Why was the battle of Edington so important for Alfred?

A

Because it was Alfreds last stand when he had nothing to lose.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

M1 - When was the battle of Wilton?

A

871

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

M1 - When was the battle of Wareham?

A

876

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

M1 - When was the battle of Exeter?

A

877

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

M1 - When was the battle of Chippenham?

A

878

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

M1 - When was the battle of Edington

A

May 878

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

M1 - When were the battles of Rochester and Benfleet?

A

885

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

M1 - I which battle did Alfred pay the Vikings a Danegeld?

A

The battle of Wilton

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

M1 - Why was the fact that Alfred paid the Vikings a Danegeld bad?

A

Because it presents Alfred as weak to the Vikings

44
Q

M1 - Did Alfred win the battle of Wilton?

A

No

45
Q

M1 - Did Guthrum stick to their agreement of peace after the battle of Wareham

A

No

46
Q

M1 - Did Guthrum stick to their agreement of peace after the battle of Exeter?

A

Yes

47
Q

M1 - Why did Alfred have an advantage in the battle of Exeter?

A

because 3000 of Guthrums troops was lost to a storm at sea

48
Q

M1 - Why did Guthrums attack at the battle of Edington have strategic timing?

A

because they attacked on the 12th-night celebration, where people would be full and drunk.

49
Q

M1 - Where did the Vikings from the attack of the battles of Rochester and Benfleet come from?

A

Francia

50
Q

M1 - Which battle was Alfred’s first victory against the Vikings?

A

Edington

51
Q

M1 - How many soldiers did Alfred have at the battle of Edington?

A

400

52
Q

M1 - Around where is the Danelaw?

A

East Anglia

53
Q

M1 - What Viking owned area was created after the battle of Edington?

A

The Danelaw

54
Q

M1 - Why was London a strategically important location?

A

Because whoever controls London controls the passageway along the Thames

55
Q

M1 - From when did Alfred control London?

A

886

56
Q

M1 - Why did Alfred retreat to Athelney?

A

Because he had devastating losses after the batter of Chippenham

57
Q

M1 - Give a rough outline of the story of Alfred and the cakes.

A

Alfred meets a swineherd while travelling alone, when tasked with looking after some cake, he accidentally burnt it and got scolded.

58
Q

M1 - Why is the Story of Alfred and the cakes important?

A
  • It shows that Alfred is a man that can make mistakes

- It presents Alfred as a peoples man

59
Q

M1 - Give a rough outline of the story of St Cuthbert.

A

St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne visited Alfred as a pilgrim asking for food, he obliged so he was visited in his dreams and was given the secret to defeat the vikings.

60
Q

M1 - Why is the story of St Cuthbert important?

A
  • It shows Alfred as being chosen by god

- It presents Alfred as a kind person

61
Q

M1 - Give a rough outline of the story of Alfred Spying.

A

Alfred disguised himself as a minstrel and entered the tent of a Danish king.
He remained until he gathered the information that he needed

62
Q

M1 - Why was the story of Alfred Spying important?

A
  • It shows that he employed clever tactics to win
63
Q

M1 - Why was the battle at Athelney important for Alfred’s victory?

A

It shows that he was able to prevail through adversity in the worst of time

64
Q

M1 - What was Alfred’s position against the Vikings in 885?

A

dire as there was a resurgence of attacks by the Vikings with the battles of Rochester and Benfleet being lost/

65
Q

M1 - Why did Alfred seize control of London?

A
  • He was concerned about the strategic importance of London
  • To clarify who administered and organised its affairs
  • The significance of London being the center of production and commerce
66
Q

M1 - Why was the capture of London important for Alfred’s victory?

A

It provided him with an important strategic point with trade and the bond between Wessex and Mercia

67
Q

What was render?

A

A kind of rent paid in goods/work to kings officials for living on an estate or the kings land (West Saxon only)

68
Q

What was a royal tribute?

A

a tax paid by those subjugated in different regions to appease the king

69
Q

M2 - What was Eorlpeburnon?

A

An earth work fortress at castle Toll (we think)

70
Q

What was flax-retting?

A

A process to produce linen from flax plants

71
Q

Who was Boethius?

A

A Roman philosopher favoured by Alfred

72
Q

M1 - Why was the fact that the Vikings were confident about being able to defeat Wessex a problem?

A

The fact that they were confident means that they are strong and capable of not needing to be careful

73
Q

M1 - Why was the fact that the Viking army is fast and mobile be a problem for Alfred?

A
  • They can move their forces around Wessex with ease

- It would be hard to predict their arrival

74
Q

M1 - Why was the fact that the Vikings had a stronghold on the north of England a problem for Alfred?

A
  • It made it easy to launch attacks on the south

- The Vikings would be able to repeatedly attack and return

75
Q

M1 - Why was the fact that some of Alfred’s family and lords of Wessex formed alliances with the Vikings a problem?

A

He wouldn’t be able to gain the support of those nobles in battle

76
Q

Why was the fact that Alfred’s nephew, Aethelwold, wanted to challenge Alfred’s rule a problem when it comes to defeating the Vikings?

A
  • He allied himself with the Vikings
  • The Vikings can use him to claim Wessex
  • Alfred is unable to have him killed due to the fact that he is a royal
77
Q

M1 - Where did the Vikings of 892 come from?

A

Frankia

78
Q

M1 - Why would the 892 Vikings be considered threatening?

A
  • They are desperate for food, so will stop at nothing to get it
  • They brought a total of 330 ships
  • They had good leadership - The Viking leader Hastein
  • They had better resources and were more experienced
79
Q

M1 - Why would the 892 Vikings be considered not threatening?

A
  • They were weak due to the lack of food (famine in Frankia)

- The ships they led didn’t have just warriors, there were also wives, children and horses

80
Q

M1 - How did luck play a part in defeating Guthrums Vikings?

A

Many of Guthrums troops were destroyed in a storm in Swanage

81
Q

M1 - Why might the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle have been put together in 893?

A

To inspire the Anglo-Saxons to come under the ‘Hero’ Alfred into attacking the Vikings

82
Q

M1 - What role did leadership play in Alfred’s victory against the Vikings?

A
  • A bibliography was written by Asser to embellish his successes and make him look strong so people were more likely to follow him
  • He was able to muster 4000 soldiers to battle at Edington in 878 and beat the Vikings
83
Q

M1 - What role did strategy play in Alfred’s victory against the Vikings?

A
  • He kept his aim into only being the keeping of Vikings out of Wessex and not England as a whole ( more manageable)
  • He was able to control key points like London to slow Viking resupply and limit their movements
  • He forged a closer alliance with the Mercians through marriage and the exchanging of goods
84
Q

M1 - What role did military reform play in Alfred’s Victory against the Vikings?

A
  • He built Burhs that were easily defensible and protected trade routes
  • Royal Navy founded around 882, repurposed Viking raiding ships
  • massive administration overhaul, centred on burhs, quicker to assemble troops
  • made frequent use of guerrilla tactics. Used to catch Vikings unaware in Edington
  • Burhs used to establish and regulate supply lines and trade
  • rotation of soldiers between fighting and farming increased morale
85
Q

M1 - What role did logistics play in Alfreds Viktory against the Vikings?

A
  • Army was split into 2 and put on a 6-month rotation between being at war and at home farming. Ensured there was always food
  • constructed 33 burhs at key points in the country. All 32km ( A days march) from each other to move troops easily
86
Q

M1 - What role did chance play in Alfred’s victory against the Vikings?

A
  • Guthrum lost 3000 men in 876 of the coast of Swanage, meaning that he lost the subsequent battle of Exeter in 877
  • Ealdorman Odda won a decisive battle against the Viking leader Ubbe ( 878). no longer pressuring Alfred, giving him time to focus on Guthrum
87
Q

What role did Religion/Propaganda play in Alfred’s victory against the Vikings?

A
  • Spread the story that he was visited by St Cuthbert to spread the idea that he was chosen by god
  • Used religion to unite the Anglo-Saxons as ‘Christians’ and the Vikings as ‘Pagans’ in order to make it an ‘us’ vs ‘them’ situation
  • He had the edited and published in order to present Alfred as a good leader to follow so that he could gain the support of the vikings
88
Q

M2 - How were burhs designed to develop urbanisation?

A
  • They can be used for markets markets build within them

- Many people lived within the structures

89
Q

M2 - Why did the nobles of Wessex resist the burhs?

A

They were a great military and financial burh-den

90
Q

M2 - How is Alfred’s council organised?

A

1) Royal family
2) Witan - advisors to the king
3) Ealdorman/Clergy
4) Thegns
5) Reeves

91
Q

M2 - Why did Alfred increase the responsibility to that of the Clergy?

A

Because they are religious

shows Alfred’s importance in religion

92
Q

M2 - What does Alfred’s household do?

A

Make important decisions about the country

They became known as ‘an assembly of nobles’

93
Q

M2 - What does the fact that they are a ‘fluid institution’ mean about Alfred’s household?

A

The individuals moved in and out as needed

94
Q

M2 - Where does Alfred’s household work from?

A

Royal vils - They didn’t have a single specific place to work from

95
Q

M2 - Why was Alfred’s household a politically weak organisation?

A
  • There was a lack of formal communication between them and Alfred
  • There were no bureaucratic bodies to support them
  • Although Alfred would consult them, his word was final
96
Q

M2 - What did the Witan discuss?

A
  • issues of a local nature
  • land disputes
  • granting land charters
  • wider issues to do with the realm
97
Q

M2 - What wider issues did the Witan discuss?

A
  • formulation and implementation of laws

- external issues like Vikings

98
Q

M2 - Who made up the Thegns?

A

Bishops, Ealdormen and reeves

also those who formed a line of communication between them and the court

99
Q

M2 - Who were the clergy?

A

Bishops priests and chaplains who performed a number of roles within Alfred’s administrative system

100
Q

M2 - What did the clergy do?

A
  • Instructs the king on all matters of a spiritual nature
  • taught the king and family with an emphasis placed on reading and writing
  • Prayed for the welfare of the king and family
101
Q

M2 - What did the historian Richard Abbels say about what the Ealdormen were originally like

A

‘All were great men from ancient and distinguished lineages’

shows how the title of Ealdorman was originally only inherited

102
Q

M2 - What changes did Alfred make about the way that people became Ealdormen

A

He made it so that thegns could rise to the rank of Ealdorman based on meritocracy, Ealdormen could also fall in rank

103
Q

M2 - How many of Alfred’s Ealdormen were originally thegns?

A

2/3

104
Q

M2 - What did the Ealdormen do?

A
  • Were the kings military advisors
  • Raised armies from shires in times of war
  • Acted as special emissaries or messengers
  • paid for the upkeep of burhs whether through armies or infrastructure - made them upset
105
Q

M2 - What did the reeves do?

A
  • had face to face relationships with the people of shires
  • administered the kings estates
  • monitored labour services
  • kept law and made legal decisions
  • were crucial to the maintenance of England though acting as judges

A-level General study (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions