Social System, Economy, Law, Goverment And Legal Sytsem Flashcards
WHAT WAS THE POPULATION IN ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND?
2 million
WHAT WAS THE KINGS JOB IN ANGLO-SAXON SOCIAL SYSTEM?
Was the most powerful position, had power over the church job was to protect people from attack and make laws
WHAT WAS THE EARLS JOB IN ANGLO SAXON SOCIAL SYSTEM?
Most important after king, ruled regions on behalf of king called earldoms and advised the king
WHAT WAS THE THEGNS JOB IN ANGLO SAXON SOCIAL SYSTEM?
Made up less than 1 percent of the population they were local warrior lords who had to own 5 hides of land and supply men for the fyrd
WHAT WAS CEORLS JOB IN ANGLO SAXON SOCIAL SYSTEM?
Made up 10 percent of the population they were free peasants who weren’t tied to there land yet they still often worked
WHAT WERE PEASANTS POSITION IN ANGLO SAXON SOCIAL SYSTEM?
Made up majority of population 70 percent they had to work for their lords 3 days a week but were free to do as they wish on other days
WHAT WERE SLAVES POSITION IN ANGLO SAXON ENGLAND?
Slaves made up 10 percent of the population their master dictated there every move and they worked in the lords house
WHAT UPGRADES COULD BE MADE IN ANGLO-SAXON SOCIAL SYSTEM?
-peasants could be upgraded to thegns if they found 5 hides of land
-slaves could be freed from peasants either by paying or willingly by their master
-thegns could be promoted to earls
WHAT DEMOTIONS COULD BE MADE IN ANGLO-SAXON SOCAIL SYSTEM?
-peasants could sell themselves to slavery
-earl can be demoted to a thegn
WHEN DID EDWARD THE CONFESSER REIGN?
1042-1066
WHAT WERE EDWARD THE CONFESSERS STRENGTHS
-His earls and thegns made a good strong military power
-he was a respected law maker and kept peace
-he was very pious (religious)
-he was married to Edith daughter of earl Godwin
WHAT WERE EDWARD THE CONFESSERS WEAKNESS?
-he was not a good warrior himself
-he had no children to succeed him
-earl of Wessex constantly challenged him
-he’d been exiled from Normandy
WHAT WERE EARLDOMS?
Large areas of land governed by earls on behalf of the king
WHAT POWERS WERE GRANTED TO EARLS TO HELP THEM RUN EARLDOMS?
-collected taxes and kept 1/3 of them
-incharge of law, order and justice in their area
-they had military power and lead their house arms and the thegns
WHAT WAS THE ORDER OF THE LOCAL GOVERMENT?
Country , Earldomss, Shires , Hundreds , Tithings
WHAT WAS A SHIRE?
an earldom was divided into shires who was run by shire reeves
WHAT IS A HIDE ?
area of land that covers about 120 acres
WHAT WAS A HUNDRED?
A hundred hides of land
WHAT IS A TITHING?
10 households
WHAT WAS THE WITAN?
A council who advised the kind it was made up of important people such as thegns earls and archbishops
KING CHOSE WHO WAS APPOINTED TO WITAN AND DID NOT HAVE TO LISTEN TO ADVICE
WHAT WAS THE JOB OF A SHIRE REEVE?
-received writs from king
STATING
-collect geld tax
-collect fines from the shire court
-judge cases and enforce kings law
-make sure men are provided to fyrd
-assure roads and defences are maintained
WHAT IS THE FYRD?
army made up of one man from every five hides the men of the Anglo Saxon army and fleet
WHAT WAS THE SELECTED FYRD?
well equipped thegns ect.. skilled with good weapons service fixed for 40 days as they could not be away from their farm
WHAT IS COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY?
If one member of Tithing broke law, rest are responsible to take him to court of everyone is punished
WHAT WERE BLOOD FEUDS?
grudges between families that went on for generations if someone killed victims family had right to kill murderers family
WHAT WAS THE WEIRGILD?
Prevented blood feuds instead of revenge composition paid to victims family
WHAT WERE THE COMPOSITION PRICES?
CEORL-20 shillings THEGN-1200 shillings
EARL-3600 shillings
WHATS HUE AND CRY?
Anyone in community could call on others to help track down criminal
WHAT IS TRIAL BY ORDEAL?
God was ordered to judge criminal when community couldn’t
accused would hold red hot iron on hand if wound healed deemed innocent
WHAT WAS THE KING LAW?
treason was serious and usually lead to death penalty
WHAT WERE ANGLO-SAXON ENGLANDS BIG TRADES?
Crops wool and cloth
WHAT WERE BIG TRADING CITIES IN ANGLO SAXON ENGLAND?
London and York
WHY DID ENGLAND HAVE A STRONG ECONOMY?
-Good climate for farming south and east crops and west livestock
-strong trade links with scandenavia
-efficient tax system boosted income
-burhs meant reliable tax systems
WHAT WAS A BURH?
Each shire had a burh it was centre of trade and law said valuable read must happen there
WHAT ARE SOME FEATURES OF A BURH?
-taxesd as expensive trade happens there
Strong walls and ramparts prevented Viking raids
-people from countryside would seek refuge when vikings would attack
-each shire had a burh
