Normans Flashcards
What was the king’s role in Anglo-Saxon government?
What was the king’s role in Anglo-Saxon government?
1 The king sat at the top of the social ladder and held absolute power 2 The king made laws 3 The king could force people to pay taxes 4 The king controlled land, which he could give to followers or take away from those who he felt had
What was the role of the Witan in Anglo-Saxon government?
1
The Witan was …
2
The Witan advised …
What was the role of the Witan in Anglo-Saxon government?
1
The Witan was the king’s council
2
The Witan advised the king but did not limit his power - the king could ignore the Witan if he wanted to
Edward’s negative aspects
Most of his supporters were …
He had no …
The Earl of Godwin …
Edward’s negative aspects
Most of his supporters were not in England as he had been exiled to France for a large part of his life.
He had no children as heirs.
The Earl of Godwin was a powerful force that he could not control.
What was in Edward’s favour as ruler?
1 Edward believed ... 2 He earned ... 3 He was married ...
What was in Edward’s favour as ruler?
1
Edward believed in the power of God guiding him and the people
2
He earned the respect of people as a lawmaker
3
He was married to Edith, daughter of Earl of Godwin, a powerful noble
Edward the Confessor was the …
Edward the Confessor was the second-last Anglo-Saxon king.
Under collective responsibility, when members of the tithing (community) broke the law, the other members were required to …
Under collective responsibility, when members of the tithing (community) broke the law, the other members were required to enact justice or face punishment themselves.
What was the role of the shire reeve in Norman England?
1 In local government, the king ... 2 Through writs, ... 3 The shire reeve collected ... 4 The sheriff judged ... 5 The shire reeve also rallied ...
What was the role of the shire reeve in Norman England?
1
In local government, the king had a representative called the shire reeve, or sheriff in modern English
2
Through writs, the king gave orders to sheriffs
3
The shire reeve collected taxes on the king’s land
4
The sheriff judged cases in the shire court and enforced laws
5
The shire reeve also rallied men for the fyrd (defence forces) and made sure the shire was protected
Hue and cry
Members of the community could …
Hue and cry
Members of the community could force fellow members to search for criminals.
Trial by ordeal
…
Wergild
…
Trial by ordeal
When a court could not judge a case, God was asked to intervene and come to a decision.
Wergild
Money paid to avoid blood feuding.
Features of hundreds, tithings and households:
1 Hundreds were ... 2 A tithing was ... 3 A hundred was .... 4 A hide was ... 5 The number of men to be provided for the fyrd was ...
Features of hundreds, tithings and households:
1 Hundreds were divided into ‘tithings’ 2 A tithing was originally 10 households 3 A hundred was originally 100 ‘hides’ of land 4 A hide was about 120 acres of land 5 The number of men to be provided for the fyrd was determined by the number of hides
Factors helping English trade
Factors helping English trade
sophisticated system for collecting taxes.
access to the sea
The climate was ideal for both crops and livestock.
How did the role of thegns change under the Normans?
1 Under the Normans, ... 2 Normans inherited ... 3 Thegns who ...
How did the role of thegns change under the Normans?
1
Under the Normans, thegns became tenants
2
Normans inherited the land when the thegns died, not the thegns’ offspring (children)
3
Thegns who disobeyed their Norman masters had their land taken away
Earls
Earls and their earldoms were _______ in importance as they became such smaller; As tenants-in-chief, earls were now …
Earls
Earls and their earldoms were reduced in importance as they became such smaller; As tenants-in-chief, earls were now dependent on the king.
Slaves
__% of Anglo-Saxons had been slaves. The Normans ________ with slavery and freed many of them.
Slaves
10% of Anglo-Saxons had been slaves. The Normans disagreed with slavery and freed many of them.
Peasants
Under the Anglo-Saxons there were a large number of ‘_____’ (free peasants). This group became much ____ under the Normans.
Many peasants did not notice …
Peasants
Under the Anglo-Saxons there were a large number of ‘ceorls’ (free peasants). This group became much rarer under the Normans.
Many peasants did not notice the difference between the years under Anglo-Saxon and then Norman rule.
England was one of the wealthiest countries in Europe. Towns were the centre of Anglo-Saxon life.
Trade
England had …
Trade centred around ____ in England.
Trade had to be carried out within the _____, where it could then be ________ and _____.
The king had a sophisticated system for collecting taxes from towns. This benefited the ____, the _____ and the _____, which shared the proceeds from the tax.
Town and country
Each shire had a ________ town, known as the _____. This was the main _______ town. This meant ______ struggled to attack the town.
When Vikings were around, people from the countryside sheltered …
__% of the population lived in towns in ____.
England was one of the wealthiest countries in Europe. Towns were the centre of Anglo-Saxon life.
Trade
England had strong trading ties with other countries around the continent.
Trade centred around towns in England.
Trade had to be carried out within the burhs, where it could then be controlled and taxed.
The king had a sophisticated system for collecting taxes from towns. This benefited the crown, the nobles and the Church, which shared the proceeds from the tax.
Town and country
Each shire had a principal town, known as the burh. This was the main fortified town. This meant Vikings struggled to attack the town.
When Vikings were around, people from the countryside sheltered behind the burh.
10% of the population lived in towns in 1060.
The Church was one of the …
The Church was one of the most important institutions in Anglo-Saxon life. It remained so under the Normans.
What was the role of bishops in society?
1 Bishops held ... 2 They ... 3 Bishops were ...
What was the role of bishops in society?
1 Bishops held important status 2 They controlled church districts 3 Bishops were represented in the Witan
Why did the Church provide all clerks and record-keepers?
Why did the Church provide all clerks and record-keepers?
most people can’t read + write
What role did the Pope play in the Anglo-Saxon church?
1 The Pope lived in ... 2 The Pope was ... 3 He was also ...
What role did the Pope play in the Anglo-Saxon church?
1
The Pope lived in Rome and was very influential
2
The Pope was a spiritual leader
3
He was also considered a political leader
The Godwin family was a ..,
The Godwin family was a dominant political family in Anglo-Saxon England.
How much power did the Godwins have?
The Godwin family was a …
From Wessex, …
They had …
How much power did the Godwins have?
The Godwin family was a dominant political family in Anglo-Saxon England.
From Wessex, their home county, they built a base across England’s earldoms
They had no power in the region of Mercia
When did Earl Godwin die?
When did Earl Godwin die?
1053
What was the significance of Harold’s embassy?
The embassy showed that …
William of Normandy later used the embassy, and the supposed oath, to …
He claimed that …
What was the significance of Harold’s embassy?
The embassy showed that Harold was Edward’s most trusted aide.
William of Normandy later used the embassy, and the supposed oath, to legitimise his own rule in England.
He claimed that Harold had broken the oath he made to William in regard to the succession.
What were the key features of the embassy to Normandy?
1 In \_\_\_\_\_\_\_, Harold led an \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (group of representatives) to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 2 The embassy represented ... 3 But we do not know ... 4 William had to rescue ... 5 Harold then fought ...
What were the key features of the embassy to Normandy?
1
In 1064/65, Harold led an embassy (group of representatives) to Normandy
2
The embassy represented King Edward
3
But we do not know what message Edward wanted Harold to bring to William of Normandy
4
William had to rescue Harold when he was taken prisoner by Count Guy of Ponthieu
5
Harold then fought with William’s army and was rewarded with weapon and armour
What happened during the rising against Tostig?
1 Tostig had ... 2 In October \_\_\_\_, ... 3 The thegns ... 4 Morcar, ..
What happened during the rising against Tostig?
1
Tostig had threatened his nobles during his campaign to crack down on violence
2
In October 1065, Northumbrian thegns (nobles) revolted against Tostig
3
The thegns marched to York
4
Morcar, brother of Edwin, Earl of Mercia, was invited to become the Earl of Northumberland
Which family was Tostig a member of part of?
Which family was Tostig a member of part of?
Godwin
How did King Edward respond to the uprising?
king edward …
Harold, Edward’s advisor …
tostig was …
How did King Edward respond to the uprising?
king edward ordered his earls to squash the uprising
Harold, Edward’s advisor gave into the rebels demands
tostig was exiled
When did Edward the Confessor rule England?
When did Edward the Confessor rule England?
1042-1066
Edward died on …
His funeral was held on …
Edward died on 5th January 1066.
His funeral was held on 6th January 1066.
Edgar (the) Aethling’s claim to the throne:
1 Edgar was descended from ... 2 Edgar was a ... 3 He was considered ...
Edgar (the) Aethling’s claim to the throne:
1
Edgar was descended from King Alfred the Great
2
Edgar was a teenager, and a weak candidate
3
He was considered too risky to be king
Who were the rival claimants to the throne after the death of Edward the Confessor?
Who were the rival claimants to the throne after the death of Edward the Confessor?
1 Harold Godwinson 2 William of Normandy 3 Harold Hardrada 4 Edgar Aethling
