Crime and punishment

• What was the 'Kings Peace'?


  The belief that the King had the duty to keep peace in the land with the help of noble advisors
• What were the years for Anglo-Saxon reign?


  c.410-1066
• What was the social hierarchy like?


  It was divided into a very strict hierarchy
• What was the social hiearchy order?

  -King : the ruler of the country

  -Nobles: Trusted ,wealthy advisors

  -Freemen: people that rented small amounts of land to grow crops or farm animals

  -Serfs: owned no land and worked for low wages

  -Slaves
• What were the 4 types of crime?


  -Crime against authority

  -Crime against the person

  -Crime against property

  -social crimes
• Crime against authority


  Any action that went against or challenged the authority of the monarch, government or the group of society above you.
• Crime against the person 


  Any action that caused physical or emotional harm to another person.
• Crime against Property


  Any crime that involves theft or damage to another persons property or belongings
• Social Crimes


  Any action that breaks the law but isnt reported due to the beilef that it shouldn't be a crime or that it is normal.
• Why was there little crime in the countryside?


  criminals were easy to identify

  collective responsibility

  The church
• What was collective responsibility?


  The sense of reponsibility to keep order and make sure others followed the law
• Who was the Reeve?


  A highly respected individual chosen by the village to carry out decisions made by the local courts to make sure that criminals were punished
• Why did growing towns lead to more crime?

  more people led to more opportunitites for crime

  it was easier to get away with crime, people were less likely to know each other

  towns had more valuble items for sale
• Why did english towns start to grow?


  Increased trade with Europe
• The main beliefs on how law should be enforced

  -Community: collective responsibility

  -Religion: God should have the final judgement

  -Status: affected how a person would be judged
• How law enforcment was organised


  English Shires (regions) would be divided into small areas of land called hundred, which were then divided into ten 'tithings'
• What was a 'hundred'?


  A small area of land looked after by tithings
• What was a 'Tithing'?


  A group of men over the age of 10 responsible for the behaviour of others, preventing crime and catching criminals
• What was the 'Hue and Cry'?


  When a person witnessing a crime would scream to attract people that would help catch the criminal.
• How did the 'Hue and Cry' work?


  When heard the whole community would be responsible for tracking down the person suspected of the crime.
• What was included in taking a Religious Oath?

  A person suspected of crime could prove that they were innocent by swearing to God that they were innocent. It often happened in public spaces and allowed other to give support to the accused
• What were the different trials by ordeal?


  -Trial by hot iron

  -Trial by hot water

  -Trial by cold water

  -Trial by blessed bread
• What were trials by ordeal?


  A way of testing someones innocence or guilt according to the eyes of God.
• Trial by Hot iron


  A person holds an iron rod, if after a few days they were innocent in the eyes of god, the hand would have healed well if it didnt it meant that God judged them gulity
• Trial by Hot water


  A person would stick their hand into hot water, if it healed after a few days the person was innocent, if it didnt or became infected they would be guilty
• Trial by Cold water


  A person is thrown into cold water such as a river or stream blessed by a priest, if they floated, God has 'rejected' them, if they sank God had 'accepted' them and they were innocent
• Trial by blessed bread


  A priest would eat blessed bread and if they choked they would be guilty it was used only for priests
• The punishment for murder


  The wergild
• What was the Wergild?


  A fine paid directly to a murder victims family, seen as compensation for the loss of the family member and also used to avoid 'blood feuds' between families
• The prices of the Wergild


  -Noble: 1500 shillings

  -Freeman: 100 shillings

  -Serf: 40 shillings
• What is a capital punishment?


  A punishment that resulted in death
• What is a Corporal Punishment?


  A punishment that resulted in physical harm and pain to the body
• Why was public humiliation used as a punishment?


  To deter other criminals whilst also punishing less severe crimes
• How was public humiliation carried out?

  -The pillory: secured a persons arms and head while they stood

  -The stocks: secured a person at the feet while they sat down
• What were the dates of Norman Britain?


  1066-c.1200
• Who was the King during the start of Norman Britain


  Willian the conqueror
• How did King William Increase his power?

  
  

  Any resistance against him was named a crime against authority and the severity of punishments increased
• What were the features of Norman Castle building?

  Peasant work was used to build them

  They were used to control people and also physically demonstrate norman power

  Built on high land to watch over villages

  Symbolised the strength and authority of the new king
• The feudal system


  A system put in place by William the conqueror to make sure that the King had ultimate power
• What was the Fudual System?


  A system were everyone owed money and promised to serve the class above them