History Anglo Saxons

• Where did the Anglo-Saxons originate from?

  Angles were from Denmark and Saxons were from Germany
• What was the Witan?

  The king's advisors
• What was the aristocracy?

  Important people due to their wealth and power
• What were the housecarls?

  Highly trained military troops who acted as bodyguards to their Earl/Lord
• When did King Edward the Confessor become King?

  1042
• What were Landholders?

  Someone who was renting land
• What were Earls?

  Owned earldoms and also helped the King to keep control over England
• What did the Witan discuss?

  • Possible threats from foreign powers
  • Religious affairs
  • Land disputes and how to settle them
  • Also were involved in approving who the new King would be after the previous one has passed away
• Did the King have to follow the Witan's advice?

  No because they were only advisors
• Were the Earls responsible for collecting the taxes of their Earldom?

  Yes
• Were the Earls rich?

  Yes, they kept 1/3 of the taxes
• Did the Earls have any military power?

  Yes
• Did the Earls control their own group of housecarls?

  Yes
• What was the most powerful earldom?

  Wessex, as it was the richest and where the King lived
• Did the Earls oversee crime and punishment within their Earldom?

  Yes
• What was Geld Tax?

  A land tax which was paid directly to the King
• What was Fyrd?

  Military Service
• What was the Burh?

  A fortified town within a shire
• Was the English economy strong in 1060?

  Yes
• What three countries did England have strong trade links with?

  Scandinavia, Normandy and Flanders
• Were people in Anglo-Saxon England religious?

  Yes
• Were the Archbishops and bishops aristocrats?

  Yes
• Were most people in Anglo-Saxon England illiterate?

  Yes, so they relied on the Church's teaching
• What percentage of people lived in Burhs?

  10%
• Were the Burhs trading hubs?

  Yes
• Why did some trade take place in Burhs?

  Because they were more than a set amount and so they could be taxed on
• What were Burhs surrounded by to make it hard for Vikings to attack?

  Strong walls
• What were the four Earldoms?

  Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia and Wessex
• What were the Earldoms divided into?

  Shires
• What did each Shire have?

  Its own court for giving out punishments, a Burh for trading and a Shire Reeve (Sheriff) who collected Geld Tax, fines, enforcing laws, providing men for the fyrd, whilst also acting on behalf of the King
• What were Shires divided into?

  Hundreds (100 hides of land)
• What were hundreds divided into?

  Tithings (a group of 10 households)
• Name three features of The Anglo-Saxon Legal System

  Blood feuds, Wergild and collective responsibility
• Name a positive of the Blood Feuds (A revenge System)

  Allows revenge without the King/government getting involved
• Name a negative of the Blood Feud (A revenge system)

  Promotes violence and no end
• Name a positive of the Wergild

  Stops violence of blood feuds
• Name a negative of the Wergild

  Most people would choose blood feud as they could not afford wergild
• Name a positive of the Collective Responsibility (Hue and Cry)

  Encouraged good behaviour
• Name a negative of the Collective Responsibility (Hue and Cry)

  Created tension and rivalry
• What was a hide?

  An area of land around 120 acres