KeyTopic1:1060-1066

Question 1

what was society like in AS england

Answer 1

hierarchical

Question 2

anglo-Saxon England definition

Answer 2

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

Question 3

hundred definition

Answer 3

a subdivision of a shire, having its own court

Question 4

reeve definition

Answer 4

a local official, in particular, the chief law officer of a town or district in Anglo-Saxon England

Question 5

sheriff definition

Answer 5

the chief officer of the Crown in a shire, having various administrative and judicial functions

Question 6

shire definition

Answer 6

a county area in England

Question 7

role of the King

Answer 7

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

Question 8

who were the earls

Answer 8

the most important of the nobles, there was about six of them and they were always powerful landowners

Question 9

who would the king call if he needed advice

Answer 9

the Witan

Question 10

what does the Witan translate to

Answer 10

“a meeting of wise men”

Question 11

what did the Witan do

Answer 11

comprised the most powerful nobles and they offered the King their views, they could make a recommendation on the succession

Question 12

what did the earls do

Answer 12

controlled large areas of england, they governed their areas for the king and prevented rebellions, upheld the law and raised armies

Question 13

what were the most important earldoms

Answer 13

Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria and East Anglia

Question 14

what did the thegns do

Answer 14

they were nobles who held their lands directly from the king in return for military service in time of war, less powerful than earls

Question 15

what was land divided into

Answer 15

shires and hundreds

Question 16

ceorls

Answer 16

free men who owned their land , had to serve in the army if they were told to

Question 17

peasants

Answer 17

rented land from the thegn and had to do work on his land for three days each week

Question 18

slaves

Answer 18

10% of the population, not free, no land, worked for the thegn as farm labourers or servants

Question 19

population of anglo-saxon england

Answer 19

2 million

Question 20

barter

Answer 20

exchange of goods for other goods without using money

Question 21

blood feud

Answer 21

a lengthy conflict between families involving a cycle of retaliatory killings

Question 22

diocese

Answer 22

an area administered by a bishop

Question 23

mutilation

Answer 23

injuring severely, especially by cutting off body parts

Question 24

retaliation

Answer 24

the action of harming someone because they have harmed you

Question 25

tithing

Answer 25

group of 10 men for legal and security purposes

Question 26

trial by ordeal

Answer 26

a method of determining a person’s guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused person to dangerous or painful tests believed to be under the control of God

Question 27

wergild

Answer 27

the cash value of someone’s life in anglo-saxon england

Question 28

what was wergild used for

Answer 28

compensating victims of crime

Question 29

what was capital punishment used for

Answer 29

those who commited treason or betrayed their lord or ruler

Question 30

what could crimes against the church mean

Answer 30

mutilation

Question 31

what did local communities use to police

Answer 31

tithings

Question 32

trials

Answer 32

two types of court- shire and hundred
used a jury made up of people who would make a judgement
if they couldn’t come to a final decision then they would use trial by ordeal

Question 33

what type of economy did villages have

Answer 33

subsistence: they produced enough food for themselves

Question 34

how often were markets held

Answer 34

weekly

Question 35

how was the church organised

Answer 35

hierarchically like society

2 archbishops, 15 bishops and numerous priests

Question 36

what were bishops incharge of

Answer 36

a diocese

Question 37

how much of the land did the church own

Answer 37

25%

Question 38

what did people accept that god controlled

Answer 38

harvests, diseases and entry to heaven

Question 39

what did people do in abbeys

Answer 39

pray, write manuscripts and grow produce

Question 40

who were the most important family in england

Answer 40

the house of godwin