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History > Paper 1 Anglo-Saxon > Flashcards

Paper 1 Anglo-Saxon Flashcards

1
Q

When was medieval England?

A

1000-1500

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2
Q

Who were the rulers of England in 1000?

A

Anglo-Saxons

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3
Q

Who mostly dealt with crime and punishment in 1000?

A

Local communities - king and Church had some involvement

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4
Q

During the Anglo-Saxon period, what were the three important trends in crime and punishment?

A

Power and influence of the king - Penalties were increasingly decided by king rather than local communities
Power and influence of Christian Church - Concerned with giving those who had committed crimes opportunities to save their souls
Use of punishments - Capital punishment - To help boost the visible power and authority of the king

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5
Q

What was the king’s peace?

A

The belief of the Anglo-Saxons that it was the king’s duty to take care of law and order, so people could go about their everyday lives knowing that the law would be upheld

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6
Q

List the Anglo-Saxon feudal system

A

King
Nobles
Freemen
Serfs

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7
Q

Describe the king’s role on the feudal system

A

Rules the country
Decide new laws and issues codes of law
Responsible for keeping the king’s peace

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8
Q

Describe the role of the nobles in the feudal system

A

Given land by the king - wealthy and powerful
Some can advise and persuade the king when making new laws
Appoint shire reeves to make sure people follow the king’s law
Responsible for keeping the king’s peace in their local area

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9
Q

Describe the role of the freemen in the feudal system

A

Rent or own a small piece of land
Had no say in making the law

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10
Q

Describe the role of the serfs in the feudal system

A

Owned no land
Worked for others for very low pay
Had no say in making the law

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11
Q

What did Anglo-Saxons believe about victims if a crime was committed?

A

They believed it was the victim’s responsibility to seek justice if a crime was committed; but also that the whole community should play a part in delivering justice. Being loyal to your country was seen as a duty

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12
Q

How were English shires designed in the 10th century?

A

Each shire was divided into smaller areas called hundreds
Each hundred was divided into ten tithings
All men over 12 in a tithing were responsible for the behaviour of all others
One man from each hundred, and one man from each tithing had to meet regularly with the king’s shire reeve

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13
Q

What was a shire reeve?

A

A man who was appointed locally to bring criminals to justice
Their role was to prevent crime along with the hundredsman and tithingmen

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14
Q

What did the king give the nobles in return for their support?

A

Land

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15
Q

What was treason?

A

The crime of betraying the king

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16
Q

What were crimes against the person?

A

Crimes like assault or murder which cause physical harm to another person

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17
Q

What were crimes against property?

A

Crimes like theft, robbery, and arson which involve taking or damaging something that belongs to another person

18
Q

Why was it easy to identify a criminal in Anglo-Saxon towns, villages, and abbeys?

A

Most people lived in these places and knew everyone which made it easier to recognise people

19
Q

What was collective responsibility?

A

Being responsible for the actions of other members of their group
In a village community, if somebody broke the law it was up to everyone in the village to take action

20
Q

What was a reeve?

A

A local official appointed from the community who carried out decisions made by local courts

21
Q

What were moral crimes?

A

Actions that didn’t physically harm anyone, or their property, but didn’t match up to society’s views on decent behaviour
For example: not sticking to the rules and customs of the Church, or relations before marriage

22
Q

What was the hue and cry?

A

A shout for help when someone had witnessed a crime
Everyone who heard it was expected to help chase and capture the suspects

23
Q

What was an oath?

A

A formal declaration of the facts, calling on God to witness that what is said is true

24
Q

How could suspects ‘prove’ their innocence?

A

Hearings took place in public and the accused could swear their innocence under oath
They could also call upon others in the community to support their claims as ‘oath helpers’
AS justice relied heavily on religion when deciding whether someone was guilty or innocent

25
Q

What was a trial by ordeal?

A

A way of testing whether the accused was innocent or guilty in the eyes of God
The effect that the ordeal had on the accused was seen as God’s judgement on their guilt or innocence

26
Q

Name the examples of trial by ordeal

A

Trials by hot iron
Trials by cold/hot water

27
Q

Explain trials by hot water/hot iron

A

Heat was used to burn one of the accused’s hands
This was then bandaged
If the burn healed well, this was seen as a sign that God judged the person to be innocent
If burn became infected or did not heal, this was seen as a judgement of guilt

28
Q

Explain trials by cold water

A

The accused was thrown into water with their arms tied
Anyone who floated was judged guilty
Anyone who sank was judged innocent and hauled up again as they were seen as ‘pure’ as the ocean ‘accepted’ them

29
Q

What was maiming?

A

A punishment causing physical harm
A criminal could have a hand, ear, or their tongue cut out

30
Q

How was murder often punished?

A

By a fine known as the wergild
This was seen as compensation for the loss of life

31
Q

What was the wergild introduced for?

A

To reduce blood feuds

32
Q

How was the value of the wergild paid to the victim’s family decided?

A

By social status
A prince was worth 1500 shillings
A Yeoman farmer was worth 100 shillings
A serf was worth 40 shillings

33
Q

How were treason and arson punished?

A

By execution - usually hanging

34
Q

What were the stocks and pillory?

A

A combination of physical pain, discomfort, and public humiliation
Stocks secured the ankles
Pillory secured the arms and neck
They were usually placed at the centre of a town or village
Those receiving this penalty would be exposed to bad weather, sometimes for several days
Public could also throw rubbish at them or verbally abuse them

35
Q

How was murder punished?

A

Wergild

36
Q

How was assault punished?

A

Maiming

37
Q

How was public disorder punished?

A

Stocks of pillory

38
Q

How was theft punished?

A

Fines or maiming

39
Q

How was counterfeiting coins punished?

A

Hand chopped off

40
Q

How was arson punished?

A

Hanging

41
Q

How was treason punished?

A

Hanging

History (2 decks)

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