Society

• What was the order of the hierarchy in Anglo-saxon society? (highest first)

  King

  Earls

  Thegns

  Ceorls

  Peasants

  Slaves
• What was the King's role?


  To defend his country, to pass and enforce laws

  Also had power over the church
• What was an Earl's role?

  Most powerful lords- owned huge areas of land

  kings advisors

  defended their lands from attack
• What was a thegn's role

  powerful nobles and landowners (NOT AS POWERFUL A|S EARLS)

  Primarily warriors- defended king and granted land in return

  Carried out local duties- guarding tax collectors and repair of fortifications, roads and bridges
• What was a ceorl's role

  Owned a small area of farmland

  Had to serve in an army if needed
• What was a peasant's role?

  Worked on lord's land for up to 3 days a week

  Other days farmed their own rented land to grow enough to eat and pay rent

  Could be asked by their lord to fight in wartime
• What was a slave's role?

  Worked on lord's land or in his house as servants

  Every aspect of their life was controlled
• How many earl's were there?

  6
• How much of the population were thegns

  Less than 1%
• How much of the population were coerls

  Around 10%
• How much of the population were peasants

  Around 70%
• How much of the population were slaves?

  Around 10%
• What were the groups of people helping the King called?

  The royal household and the royal court
• Who did the royal household consist of?

  The King

  His family

  His household soldiers

  The servants needed to care for the royal family
• Who did the Royal Court consist of?

  The king's household

  His advisors- chief landowners and bishops
• What was the Witan?

  Council of nobles to advise the king
• When did the Witan meet?

  Whenever the King decided
• Who was the Witan made up of?

  Only the people the King summoned- earls, thegns and senior church members
• Why was the Witan consulted if the king still made the decisions?

  Showed he respected their views making them more likely to respect his decisions
• What was the Witan's most powerful role?

  If there was doubt about who would be the next King they would meet and make a recommendation or decision
• What was a writ?

  Written orders/ laws sent to officials around the country
• What were the four main earldoms?

  Wessex

  Mercia

  East Anglia

  Northumbria
• How many shires were there?

  40
• What was a shirereev?

  A sheriff- a local thegn

  Sent writs by the King

  Collected taxes

  Carried out justice

  Raised soldiers for the army
• What were the hundreds?

  Sub divisions of shires

  Contained around 12 villages

  Each had its own reeve

  Held a hundred court each month- less serious crimes
• Name and explain one punishment

  Wergild (killing a nobleman) - 300 shillings fine

  Stealing from the church- hands cut off
• What was the hue and cry?

  System of catching criminals that meant everyone had a duty to raise the alarm if they saw a crime taking place.
• What was trial by ordeal?

  A person accused of a crime would have to go through an ordeal such as running across hot coal without getting burned to prove innocence
• Give 3 facts to prove anglo-saxon england was mostly agricultural


  Animals were brought into the house to keep them from dying from cold

  90% of people were farmers

  Ploughs were one of the most valuable items
• How many places were described as a town by 1060?


  100- largest was London
• What were the two types of economy?

  Subsistence- produced enough for themselves and their family

  Exchange- Swapped their stuff for others
• Give 2 facts to prove anglo-saxon society was wealthy

  Sheep cost 5 silver pennies, pigs 10 and ox 30

  Wealthy societies depended on coins to buy stuff that showed status
• How much of England's land did the church own?

  25%
• Give evidence to prove the church had control over the people

  People did not work on Christmas or Easter

  Everybody had to be a tenth of their earnings to the church