anglo saxons

• Ceorls

  'free' peasant farmers not tied to their land
• Danelaw


  part of England where Danish power was stronger
• Hides


  measurement used for land

  1 hide = 120 acres
• earls

  highest aristocracy

  ruled a region on behalf of the King
• shire reeve


  "Sherriff"

  managed King's estates, collected tax
• aristocracy


  people in society who are important
• thegns


  a local lord owning 5 hides of land
• slaves


  bought and sold like property

  lowest of society
• Powers of the King

  • to make laws
  • controlled production of silver pennies
  • granted land/took away land
  • raise an army and fleet
  • when/how much tax was paid
• Duties of the people:

  • obey the law
  • use King's coins
  • land = obligations (military and tax)
  • landholders provide soldiers
  • landholders pay tax
• Witan


  council that advised the King on issues of the government

  approved the new King
• Blood feuds


  revenge by death between families
• Wergild


  paying a victim's family the price that they were worth
• Collective Responsibility


  everyone responsible for each other

  one person's bad actions could lead to the consequences of the whole group
• Burh


  a town
• London


  centre of trade and wealth
• Churches


  -full of jewels and valuables

  -target for raiders