anglo saxon england

• William I of England


  Also known as William the Conqueror, he defeated King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings and became the first Norman king of England.
• 1066 England


  The year of the Norman Conquest, where William, Duke of Normandy, defeats King Harold II of England and becomes the first Norman king.
• How would Saxon lords mainly keep control 


  They kept it through a traditional system of loyalty which was rewarded with gifts
• what was the wergild


  It was like compensation for damaging the person where a predetermined amount of money would be owed to the family of the victim
• how was the amount of money for a wergild determined 


  There were set amounts for various body parts and these tariffs would vary from village to village
• System that fueled blood feuds

  The wergild system, where families would seek compensation (in the form of money, land, or other assets) for an injury or death.
• Motivator in blood feuds


  Honor, where individuals and families sought to protect their reputation and social standing
• Result of blood feuds


  Prolonged and often violent conflict, with each side seeking to exact revenge
• what was the hue and cry


  If a member of the community saw a crime being committed then they would be obligated to cry out for others to help them
• when was a man expected to join a tithing


  12
• what was a tithing


  A group of ten men responsible for their behaviour for example if one commited a crime then the rest were responsible for bringing them to justice
• what happens to other members of a tithing if one of them got away with a crime


  The punishment would be given to all members
• what was trial by ordeal


  The trial by ordeal system was supposed to decide the judgement of wether someone was innocent or not
• who decided innocent or guilt during trial by ordeal


  god
• how many types of trial by ordeal was there


  4
• what was trial by fire/hot iron


  The accused would hold a red hot iron bar and then have the dressed after 3 days if the wounds were healing then god had judged them innocent but if they were infected they were guilty
• what was trial by hot water


  The accused would retrieve an object from the bottom of a pot of boiling water then there wounds would be inspected after 3 days
• what was trial by cold water


  The accused was thrown into a body of water and if they floated they would be guilty and if they had been accepted by the water they would be seen as innocent
• what did the water represent during the trial by cold water


  purity and god
• what was trial by sacrament also known as

  trial by blessed bread
• what was the trial by blessed bread


  It was when if the accused were guilty then they would choke on the bread but if they survived they were innocent
• who was the trial by blessed bread reserved for


  members of the clergy
• Clergy


  Members of the Christian Church who led spiritual services, taught, and guided the faithful in Medieval England
• why was the saxon justice system unfair


  Trial by ordeal was based on religion and not factual evidence
• why in terms of community was the anglo Saxon justice system unfair 


  by using tithings people could be punished for the crimes of someone else
• why did religious hierarchy make the justice system in medieval unfair


  Ordeals for the clergy were not as harsh or painful as other ordeals for non-clergy
• how was trial by ordeal viewed as fair


  everyone had the same chance of being protected by god
• What time period does the medieval period cover in England?

  The medieval period covers the end of the Anglo-Saxon era, Norman England, and later medieval England.
• What are some actions that have always been regarded as crimes in medieval England?

  Theft and murder are actions that have always been regarded as crimes.
• What defines a crime?

  A crime is an activity that breaks a law made by those who govern a country.
• How were crimes that threatened authority and wealth treated during the Anglo-Saxon period?

  They were considered serious and were harshly punished.
• What are the categories of crimes against the person in medieval England?

  • Murder
  • Assault
  • Public disorder
  • Rape
• What are the categories of crimes against property in medieval England?

  Arson, theft, and counterfeiting coins.
• What was the significance of Anglo-Saxon kings issuing codes of law by 1000?

  It illustrated the growing power of the monarch and unified laws across the country.
• What was the role of the Church in defining criminal activity during the medieval period?

  The Church created laws, influenced punishments, and decided guilt or innocence.
• How did social status affect the Wergild system in Anglo-Saxon England?

  The Wergild payable varied significantly based on the victim's social status.
• What were the main types of punishments in medieval England?

  • Compensation (Wergild) in Anglo-Saxon times
  • Capital punishment (killing the criminal)
  • Corporal punishment (physically hurting the criminal)
  • Fines for minor crimes
• What was the role of the shire reeve in Anglo-Saxon law enforcement?

  The shire reeve was appointed to take criminals to court and ensure punishments were carried out.
• What was the hue and cry system in Anglo-Saxon law enforcement?

  The hue and cry system involved victims or witnesses shouting to alert others to chase a suspected criminal.
• How did the role of local communities in law enforcement change in later medieval times?

  Authorities became more involved through the appointment of officials, while communities still participated.