Anglo Saxon economy and burhs

• What does the term "economy" refer to in the context of Anglo-Saxon England?

  How much money a country has and how it's made
• What were coins in late Anglo-Saxon England primarily made from?

  Silver and sometimes gold
• What type of economy was prevalent in Anglo-Saxon England?

  Exchange economy
• If someone needed bread but had no grain, what might they do?

  Swap eggs or apples for bread
• What was the primary function of trade in Anglo-Saxon England?

  To swap goods instead of using money
• What were some of the imports into Anglo-Saxon England?

  Fine cloth, wine, and pottery
• Why was food not commonly imported into Anglo-Saxon England?

  It could not be well preserved
• What was a major export of Anglo-Saxon England?

  Wool
• How did wool merchants gain status in Anglo-Saxon England?

  By completing three trading trips in their ship
• What were illuminated manuscripts produced by English scribes known for?

  Being renowned across Europe
• What is a "bur" in the context of Anglo-Saxon England?

  A fortified village or small town
• What were the defensive features of a bur?

  Walls, gates, and a palisade
• How did the gates of a bur contribute to its economy?

  They controlled access and collected taxes
• What was the first step in constructing a bur?

  Digging a deep trench
• How did the safety of burs encourage trade?

  People felt safe buying and selling
• What was the purpose of the palisade in a bur?

  To provide protection against attacks
• How did the construction of burs affect tax collection?

  It provided a means to collect taxes easily
• What is an example of a surviving bur?

  Wareham in Dorset
• What was the significance of Anglo-Saxon coinage?

  It was high quality and symbolized power
• Who is depicted on the Anglo-Saxon silver penny?

  Edward the Confessor
• What does the reverse side of the coin represent?

  A cross symbolizing Christianity
• How did coins serve as propaganda for kings?

  By showing they were in charge
• How did the quality of Anglo-Saxon coins compare to daily purchases?

  They were not useful for daily purchases
• What was the main characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon economy?

  Based partly on an exchange economy
• What role did burs play in the Anglo-Saxon economy?

  Made trade and tax collection easier
• What was the primary export of Anglo-Saxon England?

  Wool
• How did coins help advertise the king's power?

  By being high quality and well minted
• What are the key features of the Anglo-Saxon economy?

  • Based on an exchange economy
  • Limited imports, mainly food
  • Major exports included wool
  • Burs facilitated trade and tax collection
  • High-quality coinage symbolized power