Migrants In Britain: 1.4

Question 1

Why was York significant ?

Answer 1

• had only northern mint
• largest British town
• centre of A-S gov, trade and Church in the north

Question 2

Why was York important to the Vikings ?

Answer 2

• at centre of large network of Roman roads + also the rivers Ouse and Foss
  [] connected to much of known world
  [] trade networks easy to access
  [] control is made easy
• rivers made the land fertile and good for agriculture
• had the northern mint

Question 3

When was York captured by the Vikings ?

Answer 3

866

Question 4

How did York change under the Vikings ?

Answer 4

• population grew by ~15000 by 950
  [] much more multicultural as a result (Holland, Saxons, Germans, Irish, Scottish, Danes)
• built many small homes and workshops
  [] thatched roofs + wattle walls (wood frame w/dried mud, straw and plaster mixture on top)
• number of trades grew
• more varied imports internationally

Question 5

What were the main trades in York ?

Answer 5

• metal workers
• potters
• glassmakers
• blacksmiths
• jewellers
• bone carvers
• lathe turners/woodworkers
• textile workers

Question 6

What evidence is there for the trades practiced in York ?

Answer 6

street names ending in “gate” (street) and staring in the Old Norse for a certain profession, like Skeldergate (shield maker’s street)

Question 7

Why was the trade of varied goods in York so important to its economy ?

Answer 7

• attracted workers nationally
• increased trading power of York

Question 8

Where did the Vikings trade/sail up to ?

Answer 8

countries until the Black Sea (Newfoundland, Iceland, Greenland etc.)

Question 9

What were the main imports to York internationally ?

Answer 9

• Russian furs
• Byzantium silks
• Arabian oils/perfumes/spices
• German wines
• walrus ivory

Question 10

What were the main national trades/imports to York and how were they moved from place to place ?

Answer 10

• foods/grains
• wool
• timber
• iron ore
• deer antlers

moved via the Roman roads

Question 11

What is the evidence for the northern Church having influence on the area and on the Danes ?

Answer 11

• Church owned lots of land (not clear how much as few records kept)
• churches in Viking settlements all over the country
• many Viking kings/leaders converted to Christianity like Guthrum and Cnut
• archbishops like Wulfstan involved in negotiations w/other kingdoms and may have helped choose Viking kings
• most Viking coins created in York after 900 had Christian symbols like crosses

Question 12

What is the evidence for the northern Church having very little influence on the area and on the Danes ?

Answer 12

• very little funding/money given to the northern Church
• lost land to Vikings
• no record of there being an Archbishop of York in the early 900s so if there was one, he wasn’t important
• coins had Latin misspellings and pagan/Norse symbols on the reverse of the Christian side, suggesting lack of care for or influence of the Church in the making of these coins

Question 13

What evidence is there for trade between York and the rest of England ?

Answer 13

Viking coins from 900s found around the country

Question 14

What was the relationship between Anglo Saxons and the Danes ?

Answer 14

• tense
• much fighting between Danish kings and A-S rulers in the south like Athelstan etc.

Question 15

Describe life in York from 927 until 939

Answer 15

• 927; Athelstan took York’s city
• during his rule, not much changed and he was willing to work w/Danes living there
• Athelstan dies 939
  [] Northumbrian Danes wanted a Danish leader
  [] tension between A-S and Danes
• agreement reached by Wulfstan for border between A-S and Viking land to prevent tensions
• for the next 15 years, fighting over territory until the last Viking king driven out of York