KeyTopic1:1060-1066 Flashcards
what was society like in AS england
hierarchical
anglo-Saxon England definition
the period of the history of the part of Britain that became known as England from the fifth century until the Norman conquest of England in 1066
hundred definition
a subdivision of a shire, having its own court
reeve definition
a local official, in particular, the chief law officer of a town or district in Anglo-Saxon England
sheriff definition
the chief officer of the Crown in a shire, having various administrative and judicial functions
shire definition
a county area in England
role of the King
head of the government, made all important decisions, display good military skills and make sure laws were made and obeyed, had to manage his nobles by cooperating with them and controlling them
who were the earls
the most important of the nobles, there was about six of them and they were always powerful landowners
who would the king call if he needed advice
the Witan
what does the Witan translate to
“a meeting of wise men”
what did the Witan do
comprised the most powerful nobles and they offered the King their views, they could make a recommendation on the succession
what did the earls do
controlled large areas of england, they governed their areas for the king and prevented rebellions, upheld the law and raised armies
what were the most important earldoms
Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria and East Anglia
what did the thegns do
they were nobles who held their lands directly from the king in return for military service in time of war, less powerful than earls
what was land divided into
shires and hundreds
ceorls
free men who owned their land , had to serve in the army if they were told to
peasants
rented land from the thegn and had to do work on his land for three days each week
slaves
10% of the population, not free, no land, worked for the thegn as farm labourers or servants
population of anglo-saxon england
2 million
barter
exchange of goods for other goods without using money
blood feud
a lengthy conflict between families involving a cycle of retaliatory killings
diocese
an area administered by a bishop
mutilation
injuring severely, especially by cutting off body parts
retaliation
the action of harming someone because they have harmed you
