Medieval England c.1000-c.1500

• Where did the vast majority of the population live in Anglo-Saxon times?

  In the countryside (around 90%)
•  

  Who was the king from 978 to 1016?

  Aethelred
• What was the crime of betraying the king or helping his enemies?

  Treason
• What was the term for the King’s duty to ensure law and order?


  King’s peace
• What did the king provide to nobles in exchange for their support?

  Land
• What types of crime grew more common in the growing towns?

  crimes against the person and crimes against the property
• What was the term for a whole community being responsible for upholding the law?

  Collective responsibility
• Who was the official who carried out decisions made by local courts?

  Reeve
• What powerful entity, separate from the king, also held great influence over ideas about crime?

  The Church
• What were crimes that caused no physical harm but violated ideas about acceptable behaviour?

  Moral crimes
• What areas were English shires divided into?

  Hundreds
• What did the term ‘shire reeve’ later evolve into?

  Sheriff
• What was the name of the shouting when somebody witnessed a crime, meant to call all who heard it to help capture the suspects?

  Hue and cry
• How might somebody prove their innocence?

  Swear an oath
• What was the name for inflicting pain on the accused in order to let God judge their guilt or innocence?

  Trial by ordeal
• What punishment was advised by the Church for petty theft?

  Maiming
• What was the name of the fine paid to a murder victim’s family?

   Wergild
• What crimes were punishable by execution?


  Treason and arson
• What is the term for a punishment that is meant to discourage people from committing a crime?

  Deterrent
• What devices were used to secure people in a public place where they could be humiliated?


  The stocks or the pillory
• Who conquered England in 1066?

  William the Conqueror
• Why did punishments became harsher under the Normans?

  To boost the king’s power and authority
• What did the new king build all over England?

  Castles
• What new system of social organisation divided society into ranks, with everybody owing loyalty and service to those above them?

  Feudal system
• What was the lowest rank in this system, meaning people who were legally bound to work for their lord and could not leave their land?

  Serfs
• What new fine had to be paid by a whole community if the murderer of a Norman person was not caught?

  Murdrum
• What did Norman kings turn large areas of common land into?

   Royal Forests
• What new crime created to mean hunting animals on the king’s land was illegal?

  Poaching
• What is the term for crimes that are technically illegal, but widely considered acceptable?

  social crimes
• What were the men and women who avoided trial or punishment and run away called?

  outlaws and waived women
• To whom were fines paid under the Normans, instead of being paid to victims and their families?

  king’s official
• What’s new form of trial by ordeal was introduced by the Normans?


  Trial by combat
• What new law making body developed during the middle ages?

  Parliament
• What a great resource to England in 1348 and killed so many people that peasants were able to demand higher wages in the following years?

  Black death
• what new law set the maximum wage and forbade peasants from moving to find work?

  statute of labourers
• What new crime was created to criminalise Church reformers?

  Heresy
• What new punishment was invented for these criminals?

  Burning at the stake
• Into what areas were towns subdivided in the later Middle Ages?

  Wards
• From the 14th century onwards, what title was given to local wealthy men appointed by the king to enforce the law?


  Justices of the peace
• What horrific new punishment was introduced for the crime of high treason?

  Hanging, drawing, and quartering