local government

• earldoms were divided into shires
• shires had social, political, military and economic functions
• Political functions


  the shire reeve acted as the kings representative in the shire
• Social function


  each shire had its own court for trailing cases and giving punishment
• economic function


  each shire had a burgh (fortified town) as its main administrative and trading centre
• military function


  each shire provided troops for the fyrd
• at the base of each administrative system was a hide, each hide of land carried obligations, payment of taxes and military service