History crime and punishment

• Medieval England was what years

  1000-1500
• what were 2 methods of law enforcement in Anglo Saxon England

  Hue and Cry

  Tithings
• Anglo Saxon England was what years

  500-1066
• What was a tithing

  A group of 10 men over 12 who were responsible for each others crimes. If one member broke the law the others had to bring him to court or all pay a fine.
• What was the Hue and Cry


  If there was a crime, everyone in the village had to stop what they were doing immediately to go and catch the criminal. If a village failed to follow the rules they were fined.
• how is hue and cry similar to neighborhood watch

  Neighborhood watch was set up in the 1980s to prevent crime in local communities. It is about making people feel safe in the area and aims to protect people and their properties from crime and reduce the fear of crime. This is done by reporting suspicious incidents and working as a community like the hue and cry.
• 4 methods of punishment in Anglo Saxon England(500-1066)

  The blood feud

  Blood rice or Wergild

  Execution

  mutilation
• what was the blood feud


  The victim or their family were allowed to take violent revenge on the person who'd committed the crime
• Why did the blood feud cause problems

  It led to more violence and revenge attacks so didn't protect those who wanted peace and it would last for generations as it is just one long cycle.
• What was the wergild/ blood price

  Replaced blood feud.

  The victim of the crime would receive compensation in money.

  meaning violence was less likely

  This is like modern day fines.
• what was the jury made up of in Anglo Saxon England


  Made up of local men who probably knew the victim and criminal so would use their personal knowledge to make a decision
• What were the 3 types of court in Anglo Saxon

  Hundred

  Shire

  Royal
• What was the Hundred court(when did they meet, what kind of crime it dealt with and who attended)


  meet- each month at local courts

  crime- minor crimes

  who- all freemen had to attend and swear oaths to keep the peace.
• What was the Shire court(when did they meet, what kind of crime it dealt with and who attended)

  meet- twice a year

  crime- serious crimes

  who- landowners and one person from each village.
• What was the Royal court(when did they meet, what kind of crime it dealt with and who attended)

  meet- twice a year

  crime- serious crimes and crimes involving nobles

  who- The king
• why were trial by ordeal used

  when the jury or court couldn't agree on a verdict.
• why were trial by ordeals done by or inside a church

  the Saxons were very religious and thought God would tell them the truth about the criminal.
• What did the criminal have to do prior to the ordeal

  fast and pray for 3 days before and attend mass before the ordeal began, proving how religious and superstitious the Anglo Saxons were
• What were the 4 common Saxon trial by ordeals


  trial by hot iron

  trial by hot water

  trial by cold water

  trial by consecrated bread
• what was trial by hot ion

  usually taken by women

  The accused had to carry a piece of red hot iron for 3 meters

  Her hand was then bandaged and left for 3 days

  If the wound was healing then God was saying she was innocent but if not she was guilty.
• what was trial by hot water

  usually taken by men

  The accused put his hand in boiling water to pick u and object

  His arm was then bandaged and left for 3 days

  If the wound was healing then God was saying she was innocent but if not she was guilty.
• what was trial by cold water

  The accused was lowered into water on the end of a rope that was knotted at the waist.

  If the person sank and the knot went below the surface then the person was innocent because the pure water had let the person in.

  If the person floated they believed the water was rejecting them and therefore were guilty.
• What trial by ordeal did the Normans introduce in 1066 and why

  Trial by combat because the Normans were a warrior nation
• What was trial by combat

  The accuser would fight the accused and the winner of the fight was though to be the innocent one and the loser was then hanged as God said thy were guilty.
• What new laws did William introduce when he became king

  Murdrum law

  Forest laws
• What were the forest laws


  It was illegal to chop down trees or gather firewood in forests and you couldn't hunt.
• What were some reasons William made the forest laws

  1. he was concerned he was outnumbered and allowing them to continue using bows and arrows and weapons could mean they would rise up and fight against him.

  2. He liked hunting and wanted to keep the animals for himself.
• What was the murdrum law


  If a Norman was killed by an Anglo-Saxon, and the murderer was not found, the murdrum fine had to be paid to the Normans by all the people in the hundred.
• Why did William introduce the Murdrum laws

  1. It would make him rich

  2. It allowed him to control the Saxons as he was already outnumbered and couldn't afford to lose soldiers.
• What did William change about the Wergild and why

  That all fine would be paid to the king so he would become rich and be able to build castles to not only defend himself but also establish his power against the Saxons.
• What did William keep the same

  Hue and Cry

  Tithings

  Many punishments but execution was used more as deterrence to stop rebellion

  Trial by ordeal but added 1.
• 4 policing methods in thee Later Middle Ages

  Tithing and Hue and Cry

  Village constable

  Coroners

  Sheriffs
• What were village constables in later middle ages

  They had the job for 1 year at a time, were unpaid, well respected members and would look out for crime and lead the hue and cry.
• 4 punishments in the later middle ages

  fines

  stocks and pillories

  whipping

  execution
• What was a sanctuary in the middle ages

  a safe place within a church or cathedral. Once someone claimed sanctuary they were under protection of the church.
• What does the sanctuary show

  that religion had greater power over law and order and was very influential as not even the county sheriff could remove someone from a sanctuary
• What was the benefit of the clergy

  Anyone who could read the neck verse from the bible had the right to be tried in a church court and possibly avoid execution as they were more lenient. The church believed in mutilation as it gave people a second chance.
• What influence did kings have on crime and punishment in the middle ages

  1. Laws were made by the king after consulting with bishops and nobles.

  2. Kings set up tithings

  3. The level of fine for wergilds were decided by the king.
• "Community was the main influence on law and order between 1000-1500" Do you agree

  Yes- tithings, trial by juries, hue and cry

  No- religion played a big part like trial by ordeals, sanctuary, benefit of the clergy.

  No- also the king/ authority was a factor- punishments, wergild, forest/ murdrum laws
• What years was the Early modern period

  1500-1700