Anglo-Saxon Social System Flashcards
name the five main features of the Anglo-Saxo social system
King, earls, thengs, peasants, slaves
what % were slaves in anglo-saxon society
10%
who were thengs
they were minor landowwners and were the warrior class (equivalent to knights)
how many thengs were there in England in 1060
5000
who was an earl
major landowners
what were the earls role in society
they would advice the king on matters of state and govern large areas of England for the King
what was the main role of the Anglo-Saxon king
To protect his people from attack and give the people laws maintain for safety
what did every boy have to do at the age of 12 in Anglo-Saxon society
swear an oath of allegiance to the king
what power did Anglo-Saxon kings have
they could make laws. Control the production of silver pennies. owned huge land estates that brought in money for him and provided him with land to give to his followers. He could raise armies and command them. He decided when and how much tax was to be paid ,e.g the geld tax
what was danelaw
the north of England. It was called Danelaw because The North was settled by Danes (vikings)
Why did Danelaw limit the power of King Edward the Confessor
Danelaw had a different culture to that of the south, they were prone to ignore the orders of King Edward
What else limited the power of Edward the Confessor
The earls were very powerful and could use there power to control King Edward
Who was the most powerful earl in the early part of Edwards reign
Earl Godwin
