crime and punishment medieval period

• Name three categories of crimes

  Crimes against authority (e.g treason)

  Crimes against property (e.g arson)

  Crimes against the person (e.g murder)
• Name two community law enforcement/policing methods used in the Medieval period

  The Hue and Cry

  Tithings
• What were tithings?

  A group of 10 males aged over 12. Responsible for making sure people paid a fine or went to court if they had committed a crime
• What was benefit of the clergy?

  If someone could recite a passage of the Bible they could be tried in a Church court
• What was Sanctuary?

  A criminal could stay in a church for 40 days. They wouldn’t be arrested while they were in there. 

  They would then need to face justice or escape to France.
• What was Sanctuary?


  A criminal could stay in a church for 40 days. They wouldn’t be arrested while they were in there.

  They would then need to face justice or escape to France.
• What was trial by ordeal?

  If a jury couldn’t decide innocence or guilt, it was left to God to decide.
• Name 3 types of trial by ordeal

  Trial by hot iron

  Trial by hot water

  Trial by cold water
• When was trial by ordeal abolished?

  1215
• Who became King in October of 1066?

  William I/William the Conqueror
• What were the Forest Laws?

  New laws introduced by William I. Punished Anglo-Saxons for hunting, poaching or cutting down trees on the King’s land.
• Why do you think Normans introduced stricter laws?

  They were a tiny minority in England - only 7,000 Normans compared to 2 million Saxons. They needed to deter the Saxons from attacking them
• What new form of trial by ordeal introduced by William I?

  Trial by combat - the Normans were a ‘warrior nation’
• What was Blood Feud?


  A revenge cycle which often led to more blood shed
• What fine did the Anglo-Saxons introduce to stop blood feud?

  Wergild fine - paid to the victim of a crime
•  What fine did the Normans introduce?

  Murdrum fine - paid to the King
•  Why do you think the Normans kept the hue and cry and tithings?

  Because most people lived in small communities and it made sense to rely on collective responsibility
• What was trial by jury?

  A jury made up of 12 members of the local community
• Name three changes were made to law enforcement (policing) in the later middle ages?

  Justices of the Peace (JPs) 

  Volunteer constables  

  Sheriff and his posse
•  What were Justices of the Peace?


  Men who were appointed to serve justice on behalf of the King
• Who deals with suspicious deaths in the later middle ages?


  The coroner