The Social System

Question 1

What was the Anglo Saxon social system ?

Answer 1

Hierarchical

Question 2

What was the order of the Anglo Saxon social system?

Answer 2

The king
The earls
Thegns
Ceorls
Peasants
Slaves

Question 3

What was the kings role ?

Answer 3

Most important task were to defend his country, to pass good laws and make sure the laws where obeyed
Power over the church

Question 4

Who where the earls and what was the role of the earls ?

Answer 4

Most powerful lords and owned huge areas of land
No more than 60
Kings advisers, ensured laws were enforced
Raised men for the kings armies

Question 5

Who where Thegns and what was their role?

Answer 5

Thegns (less than 1% of the population)
Nobles but less powerful than earls
Primarily warriors who defended the king
In return he gave them land
Carried out local duties: guarding local tax collectors, organizing repairs and building

Question 6

Who where Ceorls and what was their role?

Answer 6

Ceorls (around 10% if the population)
Owned their own small area of farmland
Did not have to work for their lord every week, unlike the peasants and slaves
Every male Ceorl had to serve in an army if needed

Question 7

Who where peasants and what was their role ?

Answer 7

Peasants ( over 70% of population)
Had to work on the lords land and do any job he requested
Farmed their own rented land to grow food to survive and pay their rent
Make peasants could be asked to fight in wartime by their lord

Question 8

Who where slaves and what was their role?

Answer 8

Slaves (10% of the population)
Not free and had no land
Worked on the lords land or In their house
Their master controlled their life: amount of work, food they ate, and who they could marry