Local Government And The Earls

Question 1

What was the central government ?

Answer 1

The king and his administrators

Question 2

What did the king do to solve the issue of him not being able to govern everywhere?

Answer 2

The local government consisting of , at the top, the earls
They governed local areas. Making sure criminals where punished and taxes collected

Question 3

What where the four main earldoms ? Think WENM, what where earls expected to do here

Answer 3

Wessex
East Anglia
Northumbria
Mercia
The earls here where expected to ensure that there where no uprising

Question 4

What did the king do to solve the issue of Earls not being able to govern everywhere and to ensure it was effective?

Answer 4

The shires and hundreds, a more detailed local government that was highly effective

Question 5

What did the shires do ?

Answer 5

• 40 shires and king appointed a local theign as sheriff ( shire reeve)
• he would send him instructions in writs
  1. Collect taxes and fines due to the king
  2. Carry out justice in the kings shire court
  3. Raise soldiers for the royal army

Question 6

What did the hundreds do?

Answer 6

The hundreds where a subdivision of of the shires
- had their own Reeve who held a hundred court each month
- each hundred contained 12 villages