norman and saxon england

• Peasant farmer


  • Majority of population
  • Rented small farms
  • Worked for the lords
  • When lords didn't need any more crop, they could take it home to their families
• Ceorl


  A farmer which was not tied to a lord or land
• Earls


  The most important aristocrats
• Powers of the earls

  • Collected taxes
  • Oversaw justice and punishment in their earldoms
  • Had military powers
  • Were more powerful than the king in Edward's rule
• Shire


  • Had social, political, economic and military powers
  • Had their own courts
  • Had the shire reeves
  • Had burhs (fortified towns)
  • Provided troops for the fyrd
  • Divided into hundreds and tithings
  • Collected taxes and the geld tax
  • Collected fines and enforced the law
• Witan


  The king's advisors made up of earls and bishops who helped him with issues within the government. The king didn't have to listen to them.
• Shire reeves


  They were sheriffs, they managed the king's estates, collected revenues and were in charge of the local courts
• What citizens were expected to do

  • Use the king's coins
  • Obey the king's laws
  • Swear oaths to the king (would have to when they turned 12)
• The king


  • Had a special link to God
  • Could make laws
  • Controlled production of coins
  • Distributed land ownership
  • Had military power
  • Decided on taxation rates
• Fyrd


  The army made up of thegns and their followers. Each five hides would provide one man, but they could only be in the army for a fixed service of 40 days.
• The king was the lawmaker in Saxon England
• Attending church was a large part of everyday life, and the church had a powerful influence
• William the Conqueror's reign

  1066-1087
• Edward the Confessor's reign

  1042-1066
• Embassy to the north

  When Harold Godwinson supposedly washed up in Normandy, got captured, was saved by William, rescued William's men from quicksand, and swore an oath that William should be the next king of England
• The Godwins


  • Owned a lot of land
  • Lords to many thegns, powerful warlords
  • Married to powerful people, e.g. Edward the Confessor married Edith Godwin
  • Influence in the church, Edward appointed bishops who were loyal to the Godwins
• Why Tostig was disliked


  He had harsh taxation rates and became very tyrannical. Following two thegns attempting to confront him on tax rates, he arrested them and ordered their execution.
• Why Tostig was exiled


  He would often act against the law and rob the churches, deprive men of their land and their lives. In 1065, a rebellion uprised, and killed anyone associated with Tostig. The king called a meeting in which he tried to get Harold to end the rebellion but Harold disagreed. On the 28th of October, Tostig was banished from the country.
• Succession crisis


  Only Edward's wife and a few other members were at his deathbed, so nobody truly knew what he had said and if he had promised the throne to anyone.
• Claimants to the throne

  • Edgar Aethling
  • Harold Godwinson
  • Harald Hadrada
  • William of Normandy
• Why Edgar believed he had a claim

  He was Edward's closest living blood relative as he was his nephew, but he was only 13 and was not made for the throne as he had no power to his name.
• Why Hadrada believed he had a claim


  He was the king of Norway, and claims that there were deals and treaties which said after Edward died after taking Halfacnut's place, the next king of Norway would replace Edward.
• Why Harold believed he had a right

  Supposedly on his deathbed, Edward states that Harold should "command this woman and all the kingdom to your protection" - it could be interpreted that Edward wanted Harold to be king or the fact that he wanted him to take care of Edith.
• Why William believed he had the right

  On Harold's embassy to Normandy, he supposedly swore an oath that after the king died, William would become king. However, this did not happen, William went to the Pope and stated that Harold broke an oath and he sides with William.
• Battle of Gate Fulford

  1. Hadrada and Tostig invade

  2. Supported by Tostig (Harold's brother, previously exiled for tyranny)

  3. Edwin and Morcar lose the battle as they were outnumbered and Hadrada's men were tough and well-trained
• Hadrada's invasion


  • 200-300 fleets of warships
  • 10,000 men
• Battle of Stamford Bridge

  1. Hadrada and Tostig lose the battle as the Vikings were vulnerable as it was a hot day and they had taken their shirts off, the English catch them like this and have a fierce fight which ended up killing Hadrada and Tostig

  2. Out of the 200-300 warships, only 24 ended up leaving back to Norway
• Battle of Hastings


  Harold loses as the Normans had horses (over 2000), had the support of the Pope and consequently a lot of soldiers, Harold's army had been spotted on Senlac Hill, William had good morale and a sophisticated arrangement of his army, William's feigned retreat, Harold's shield wall was broken down
• How Harold died


  Shot in the eye by an arrow, killed by a lance (long sword used by horsemen), beheaded by a sword, disembowelled by a spear and even possibly that his genitalia was hacked off and carried far away
• How William gained control

  1. Secured Kent trading ports to bring supplies over from Normandy

  2. Built castles to assert dominance

  3. Secured Canterbury and gained the trust of the archbishop

  4. Secured the treasury in Winchester to control cash

  5. Burnt land between Berkhemstead and London to deprive citizens

  6. Held a meeting in Berkhemstead where Edwin, Morcar and Edgar submit and swear an oath

  7. Crowned on Christmas Day
• How William gained loyalty

  • Edwin, Morcar and Edgar submit and swear an oath of fealty (which is later broken) and offered to give him the crown as they thought submission was better than fighting
  • Rewarded loyalty with gifts, tax paid to loyal mercenaries and land
  • If the Saxon earls were loyal, they could keep their land
• Why William used castles

  • To establish control
  • Would intimidate Saxons
  • Could watch over land and citizens, induced fear
  • Resembled Norman power
• How to answer a 12 marker: use own knowledge, read bullets, new point (magic number 3), specialist knowledge
• How to answer a 16 marker: intro 2:1, why you agree/disagree, conclusion, specialist knowledge
• When analysing markets, a range of assumptions are made about the rationality of economic agents involved in the transactions
• The Wealth of Nations was written

  1776
• Rational


  (in classical economic theory) economic agents are able to consider the outcome of their choices and recognise the net benefits of each one
• Rational agents will select the choice which presents the highest benefits
• Consumers act rationally by


  Maximising their utility
• Producers act rationally by


  Selling goods/services in a way that maximises their profits