Crime And Punishment - Anglo Saxons In Depth Revision

Question 1

When did Alfred the great unify the laws of England?

Answer 1

C.871

Question 2

What did the wergild replace?

Answer 2

The blood feud

Question 3

Give 2 examples of community law enforcement which involve powers of 10

Answer 3

Tithings and hundreds

Question 4

What two body parts could you be relieved of if you stole something?

Answer 4

Foot or hand

Question 5

What was an ingenious punishment for the punishment and prevention of slander?

Answer 5

Cutting off the tongue

Question 6

What would grant you outlaw status?

Answer 6

Not attending a trial

Question 7

What was trial by cold water?

Answer 7

Dunked in blessed pond and if you float you are guilty as the holy water rejects your sin and if you sink then you are innocent and hauled out

Question 8

What were trial by hot iron and boiling water - and which was used on women primarily?

Answer 8

Hold the hot thing or put arm in hit thing and bandage burns - after 3 days if healing well then innocent
Women = hot iron usually

Question 9

What group of people was trial by cold water used on mainly?

Answer 9

Serfs

Question 10

Did the church lose or gain power in the period?

Answer 10

Gain

Question 11

What 3 punishments were you likely to be given after committing treason?

Answer 11

Beheading, burning or drowning

Question 12

What was the hue and cry and example of?

Answer 12

Community law enforcement

Question 13

What kind of courts would petty crimes be dealt with in? Minor crimes? Major crimes?

Answer 13

Hundred courts, shire courts, royal courts
All public

Question 14

What would be a good way of trying to prove your innocence in an Anglo Saxon court?

Answer 14

Swearing an oath before God of your innocence

Question 15

What did the shire reeve do?

Answer 15

Take criminals to court and ensure the continuance of justice/ensure punishment carried out

Question 16

What were small towns called?

Answer 16

Burhs

Question 17

Was the crime rate high or low?

Answer 17

Low

Question 18

What type of punishment is maiming also known as?

Answer 18

Corporal punishment

Question 19

Give 3 crimes against the person

Answer 19

Murder
Slander
Assault

Question 20

Give 3 crimes against property

Answer 20

Arson
Petty theft
Coin counterfeiting/poaching

Question 21

Give 3 crimes against authority

Answer 21

Treason (plotting against king)
Rebellion (protest and trying to bring down king)
Not paying church tithe (tax)
Disrupting the king’s peace

Question 22

What system of responsibility did Anglo Saxon law enforcement rely on?

Answer 22

Collective responsibility

Question 23

What were 3 aims of Anglo Saxon punishment?

Answer 23

Retribution
Deterrent
Revenge

Question 24

How did the church enforce the law?

Answer 24

Sermons and religious teachings and trial by ordeal

Question 25

Above what age can you join a tithing?

Answer 25

12

Question 26

What is a posse comitatus?

Answer 26

Shire reeve summons men to catch criminal

Question 27

On whose behalf is a shire reeve governing?

Answer 27

The king’s

Question 28

What is the blood feud

Answer 28

Revenge by inflicting equal suffering from victim to attacker

Question 29

Serious crimes were linked to status as

Answer 29

Major crimes were deemed so if they damaged the property or prospects of the ruling classes

Question 30

What would the stocks or pillory punish?

Answer 30

Public disorder

Question 31

What was the punishment for coin counterfeiting?

Answer 31

Hands chopped off