History - Anglo-Saxons and Normans

• What is the hierarchy of Anglo-Saxon society?

  King, earls, thanes, churls, peasants, and slaves
• Why does the hierarchy of Anglo-Saxon society resemble a Christmas tree?

  It visually represents the proportions of each social class
• What roles did the king play in Anglo-Saxon society?

  • Defend the country from attacks
  • Pass good laws
  • Ensure laws are obeyed
  • Have power over the church
• Who advised the king in Anglo-Saxon England?

  The Witen, a council of wise men
• What was the role of the earls in Anglo-Saxon society?

  They were powerful lords who owned large areas of land
• What responsibilities did earls have in their regions?

  Ensure the king's laws were followed, raise armies, and protect people
• How many thanes were there in Anglo-Saxon society?

  Less than one percent of the population
• What duties did thanes perform in Anglo-Saxon society?

  Defend the king and carry out local duties
• What percentage of the population were churls?

  About 10% of the population
• What did it mean for churls to be "free" in Anglo-Saxon society?

  They owned their own land and did not have to work for a lord weekly
• What was the role of peasants in Anglo-Saxon society?

  They worked on their lord's land and farmed their own rented land
• What percentage of the population were peasants?

  Over 70% of the population
• What were the living conditions of slaves in Anglo-Saxon society?

  They had no land and worked on their lord's land or in his house
• How did slaves differ from other social classes in terms of military service?

  Slaves typically did not serve in the army
• How many people lived in England in 1066?

  About 1.5 million people
• How did the king depend on the earls and lords in Anglo-Saxon society?

  They helped him rule effectively, collect taxes, and raise armies
• What were the main cities in Anglo-Saxon England?

  London and Winchester
• What made England a rich country during the Anglo-Saxon period?

  Its good agricultural and pastoral farming lands
• What could happen to peasants who earned more than five hides of land?

  They could become thanes
• What was the relationship between the king and the earls based on?

  It was based on loyalty
• How could slaves gain their freedom in Anglo-Saxon society?

  They could be set free by their masters
• How did the Normans view slavery compared to the Anglo-Saxons?

  They thought owning slaves was barbaric
• What were the main features of Anglo-Saxon society's hierarchy?

  • King at the top
  • Earls helped enforce laws and collect taxes
  • Thanes were local lords and warriors
  • Churls were free peasants
  • Peasants worked the land
  • Slaves were considered property
• What could happen to peasants if they did not carry out their work for the lord?

  They could lose their right to work on that land
• What does the term "Anglo-Saxon economy" refer to?

  It refers to how much money a country has and how that money is made.
• What were coins made from in late Anglo-Saxon England?

  Coins were made from silver and sometimes gold.
• What type of economy was prevalent in Anglo-Saxon England?

  An exchange economy was prevalent, where goods were swapped instead of bought with money.
• If someone needed a loaf of bread and had extra eggs, what would they likely do in the Anglo-Saxon economy?

  They would swap their eggs for the loaf of bread.
• What were some common imports in the Anglo-Saxon economy?

  Imports included fine quality cloth, wine, pottery, and jewelry.
• Why was wool significant in the Anglo-Saxon economy?

  Wool was vital for cloth making all over Europe.
• What could wool merchants become after completing three trading trips?

  They could become fans, local nobles with certain powers.
• What was an important component of the Anglo-Saxon economy?

  The bur, a fortified village or small town, was an important component.
• What is a bur?

  A bur is a fortified village or small town surrounded by a defensive wall.
• What was the function of the palisade in a bur?

  The palisade served as a heavily built fence for defense.
• What was the first step in constructing a bur?

  The first step was to dig a very deep trench.
• How did the gates of a bur contribute to trade?

  The gates controlled access to the markets and facilitated tax collection.
• Why were towns fortified during Anglo-Saxon history?

  Towns were fortified to protect the people from Viking invasions.
• What is an example of a real bur mentioned in the material?

  Wareham in Dorset is an example of a real bur.
• What was the role of the shire eaves in the bur?

  The shire eaves collected the king's taxes on goods brought in for sale.
• How did the safety of the gates in a bur encourage trade?

  People felt safe and confident buying and selling inside the bur.