Anglo-Saxon England

• The role of the king was to : choose earls , create and keep a strong army, create and enforce laws, control the royal mint, set tax, own large amounts of land and have an heir to the throne
• Earls were chosen by the King
• Earls had power over their earldom but they still answered to the king
• Life expectancy was low
• Infant mortality was high
• Earls can keep 1/3 of the tax they collected
• The Witan advised the king, but he did not have to listen to them
• Peasant farmers made up most of the Anglo-Saxon society
• Peasant farmers provide food for their families and thegns
• Slaves made up 10% of Anglo-Saxon population
• Churls were a form of peasant with more freedom and wealth than peasant farmers.
• Churls can move around the country and work for another lord
• Slaves can be bought and sold however the owner saw fit
• Slaves used to plough the fields