1. Anglo-Saxon society

• Anglo-Saxon society hierarchy

  • King
  • Earls
  • Thanes
  • Churls
  • Peasants
  • Slaves
• King

  • Defend the country from attack
  • Pass good laws
  • Ensure laws are obeyed
  • Power over the church
• Earls

  • Most powerful lords
  • Owned huge areas of land
  • Ruled old kingdoms
  • Advised the king
  • Ensured king's laws were followed
  • Raised men for the king's army
  • Protected people in their lands
• Thanes

  • Noble but less powerful than earls
  • Warriors who defended the king in return for land
  • Carried out local duties like guarding tax collectors and organising repairs
• Churls

  • Free men who owned their own small area of land
  • Had to serve in the army if needed
• Peasants

  • Over 70% of the population
  • Worked on the lands of their lord for up to 3 days a week
  • Farmed their own rented land to grow food and pay rent
  • Could be asked to fight for their lord in wartime
• Slaves

  • Around 10% of the population
  • Not free, had no land
  • Worked on their lord's land or in their house as servants
  • Every aspect of their life dictated by their master
  • Did not have to serve in the army
• The country was ruled by a king who was dependent on help from lords and earls to rule effectively
• Taxes were paid to the crown and people were expected to be loyal to their monarch and fight for them
• There were around 1.5 million people living in England in 1066
• People lived in small villages, with only about 15 towns and 2 cities (London and Winchester)
• Earl Harold Godwinson controlled the richest parts of England in the south
• England was a very rich country for the time due to its good agricultural and pastoral farming lands
• The Anglo-Saxons built elaborate churches and had luxurious homes, although there was also a lot of poor people
• Peasants who earned more than 5 hides of land could become thanes, and free peasants could sell themselves into slavery
• Thanes were an important part of the aristocracy and warrior class, and earls were the most important aristocrats after the king
• The relationship between the king and earls was based on loyalty, with earls competing to be the king's favourite
• Slaves were seen more as property than people, and were not punished as harshly as others for crimes
• The Normans thought owning slaves was barbaric, but it was a normal part of Anglo-Saxon society
• The majority of Anglo-Saxons were peasant farmers who rented small farms and did set work for their local lord