Crime and punishment

• What are the three main categories of crime in medieval England?

  Crimes against the person, property, and authority
• What does a crime against the person involve?

  It involves harming people
• What is meant by crimes against property?

  These crimes involve damaging, interfering with, or taking another’s belongings
• What are crimes against authority?

  They involve threatening or opposing the government or other officials
• What significant event marked the end of Anglo-Saxon England?

  The Norman Conquest of 1066
• Who became King of England after the Norman Conquest?

  William of Normandy, also known as King William I
• How did the Norman Conquest change the definition of crime?

  It introduced new laws and changed how crimes were defined
• What was the significance of the new laws introduced by William I?

  They confirmed his authority and safeguarded his fellow Normans
• How did attitudes towards poaching change under the Normans?

  Poaching was treated more seriously under the Forest Laws
• What were the three categories of crime in Anglo-Saxon England?

  Crimes against the person, property, and authority
• How serious were crimes against the person in Anglo-Saxon England?

  They generally made up a small number of cases
• What types of crimes against the person were recognized?

  Assault and murder, varying in seriousness
• What was the most common type of crime in Anglo-Saxon England?

  Crimes against property
• What was considered a serious crime against property?

  Arson
• How were crimes against authority viewed in medieval England?

  They were all seen as extremely serious
• What was the least serious crime against the person?

  Insulting a neighbor
• What was the most serious crime against authority?

  Treason
• What significant event occurred in 1066?

  The Norman Conquest
• What was the impact of the Norman Conquest on women’s legal status?

  It changed their social and legal status, making it harsher
• What was the murdrum law introduced by William I?


  It imposed a fine if an Anglo-Saxon murdered a Norman
• What percentage of England became a royal forest under the Forest Laws?

  About 30%
• How did the Forest Laws affect poaching?

  They made poaching a much more serious crime
• Why were the Forest Laws unpopular?

  They were seen as unfair and led to evictions
• What activities became illegal under the Forest Laws?

  Grazing animals, cutting down trees, and hunting on common land
• How did the community respond to poaching?

  Many villagers turned a blind eye to it
• What was the role of the Church in Anglo-Saxon law enforcement?

  The Church was responsible for administering justice and moral guidance
• What was the hue and cry system?

  It was a way of dealing with crimes when they were committed
• What were the two types of trial in Anglo-Saxon England?

  Trial by jury and trial by ordeal
• How did trial by jury function in Anglo-Saxon England?

  Men from the village tithing made up the jury and listened to accounts
• What was the purpose of trial by ordeal?

  To determine guilt or innocence when a jury could not reach a verdict
• What was the role of the priest during trial by ordeal?

  A priest was always present during the trial
• What was trial by hot iron?

  The accused had to pick up a red-hot weight and walk three paces
• What was trial by hot water?

  The accused had their hand bandaged and unwrapped three days later
• What was trial by cold water?

  The accused was thrown into water to determine guilt
• What was trial by blessed bread?

  The accused had to consume consecrated bread
• What were the main features of Anglo-Saxon law enforcement?

  • Local community responsibility
  • Role of the Church
  • Tithings system
  • Hue and cry system
  • Trial by jury and trial by ordeal
• How did law enforcement evolve after the Norman Conquest?

  • Maintained many Anglo-Saxon methods
  • Introduced castles and new positions
  • Established new types of courts
  • Changed the language of the legal system
• What were the impacts of the Church on law enforcement in medieval England?

  • Increased influence in law enforcement
  • Ended trial by ordeal in 1215
  • Provided moral guidance
  • Administered justice
• Compare the definitions of crime in the Anglo-Saxon and Norman eras.

  • Anglo-Saxon: Grazing, hunting, and cutting trees on common land were legal
  • Norman: These activities became illegal under Forest Laws
• What were the similarities and differences in crime seriousness in medieval England?

  Similarities:

  • Crimes against authority were always serious

  Differences:

  • Crimes against the person varied in seriousness
  • Crimes against property were the most common