anglo saxon society Flashcards
(30 cards)
two features of the witan
1)compromised the most powerful nobles and they offered the king their views and advice.
2)they played a crucial role in succession process - if the throne was disputed or there was no clear heir the witan would decide.
role of the thegn
1 Thegns were local lords who owned at least 5 hides of lands making them upper class in Anglo- Saxon society.
2 thegns had military responsibilites like providing armed men to fight for the king when required.
role of earls
1) responsible for overseeing the collection of tax on their lands
[] kept 1/3 of all collected tax
[] made earls very wealthy; this wealth was supposed to be used for the benefit of their earldoms, though wasn’t always
2)They also played an important role in governing their earldoms, managing justice, and overseeing the law in their regions. Earls often acted as the king’s representatives in their territories.
-responsible for providing men for the fyrd
[] could levy their own section of the fyrd at any time
limits to the kings power
3)role of the church(religious figures could often limit royal power by supporting or opposing specific policies.)
4)custom and tradition ( Kings could not easily change laws without the approval of the Witan, and they had to consider the wishes of the people and the nobles.)
5)wasn’t a brilliant military leader and so could be easily overpowered by the earls
6)Viking raids
[] lost large amounts of money through the Danegeld
the Danelaw in England (around half of the country) were descended from Viking invaders and wanted to live by their own rules and customs despite honouring the English kings’ rule
[] people in the Danelaw paid less tax as didn’t pay towards the Danegeld (money used to bribe Viking raiders to go away; didn’t pay since had allegiance with the Danes)
the Godwinson family of earls
[] Harold Godwinson alone held as much wealth as Edward and was a far better military leader
[] earl Godwin (Harold’s father) had been banished by Edward earlier in 1050 for disobeying his orders, but came back forcefully in 1051 with his own army from his land in England and demanded reinstatement with all his previous powers and lands
[] Edith Godwinson was married to Edward
[] very close ties to the family, so could be easily manipulated or challenged by them
role of ceorls
1)Ceorls were free peasants who owned or rented small plots of land. they had legal rights and could manage their property, including passing it on to their heirs.
2)Ceorls worked the land, growing crops and raising animals to support themselves and their families.
role of peasants
1)The majority of peasants in Edward the Confessor’s time were agricultural laborers who worked the land, often on a lord’s estate.
2)Peasants were the backbone of the Anglo-Saxon economy, producing food for the population and contributing to local trade. They were also involved in local craftsmanship and other small industries
hides
1)measurement used for land in anglo saxon and norman england.
2) The hide was also used to determine the amount of tax a person owed and the military service they were required to provide.
two features of a fyrd
Military Service
The fyrd was a system where free men in Anglo-Saxon England were required to serve in the army when called upon by the king or their local lord. They were trained to defend the kingdom and were an important part of the Anglo-Saxon military system.
Local and Temporary
The fyrd was not a professional standing army; rather, . Men served in the fyrd for short periods, usually during times of conflict and would return to their normal lives once the threat had passed.
two features of a shire reeve
Local Administration
The shire reeve (also known as a sheriff) was the king’s representative in a shire (a county). They were responsible for enforcing the king’s laws, managing local courts, and ensuring taxes were collected in their area.
Military and Judicial Duties
The shire reeve also had military duties, including gathering the fyrd and leading them in times of war. Additionally, they presided over the shire court,
how powerful was edward
-was good at keeping the peace
-was a respected law-maker
-was incredibly pious (religion was very important to the Anglo-Saxons due to relying on fate/God to get better from illness and survive in war)
[] Anglo-Saxon 12 year old boys would swear allegiance to Edward in a ceremony and if broke their oath would be struck down by God; helped keep people on his side
two feature of the anglo saxon monarchy
Religious Role
The Anglo-Saxon king had a strong religious role, often seen as God’s representative on Earth. Kings like Edward the Confessor were considered divinely appointed, and their reign was believed to ensure the peace and prosperity of the kingdom.
Authority Over Law and Order
The king had the final say in matters of justice and law. He had the power to create laws, make decisions on disputes, and levy taxes. .
two feature of the local goverment
Hundreds and Tithings
Local government in Anglo-Saxon England was divided into units like hundreds (groups of ten tithings) and tithings (smaller units of local communities). These units were responsible for law enforcement and administration, such as managing local courts and collecting taxes.
The Role of Local Officials
Local government relied on officials such as bailiffs and reeves to oversee the community. These officials were responsible for ensuring the king’s laws were followed, organizing the collection of taxes.
two features of a shire
Administrative Unit
A shire was a geographic and administrative division in Anglo-Saxon England, similar to a modern county. It was governed by a shire reeve (sheriff) who was responsible for law enforcement, collecting taxes.
A shire was made up of smaller units called hundreds, which were further divided into tithings - helped organize local communities for legal and administrative purposes.
two features of the influence of the church
Religious Authority
The Church had significant religious authority in Anglo-Saxon England. It played a central role in administering sacraments, such as baptism and marriage, and was key to people’s beliefs about life and death.
Political Influence
The Church wielded considerable political power, with church leaders often advising the king and the Witan. Bishops and abbots controlled large amounts of land and were influential in shaping laws and policies.
two feautures of anglo saxon economy
Agriculture-Based
The Anglo-Saxon economy was primarily based on agriculture, with the majority of people working the land. Farmers grew crops , and raised livestock.
Trade in Anglo-Saxon England was largely local and relied on a barter system. Goods such as food, cloth, and tools were exchanged locally, and towns played a role in facilitating trade between different regions of the kingdom.
blood feud
Personal Revenge
A blood feud was a system of revenge in Anglo-Saxon society, where a family sought retribution for the murder or injury of one of its members. It was a way for people to seek justice outside of the formal legal system.
Blood feuds often escalated over time, as each act of violence was met with further violence, causing cycles of revenge between families or clans.
wergild
Personal Revenge
A blood feud was a system of revenge in Anglo-Saxon society, where a family sought retribution for the murder or injury of one of its members. It was a way for people to seek justice outside of the formal legal system.
Escalation of Conflict
Blood feuds often escalated over time, as each act of violence was met with further violence, causing cycles of revenge between families or clans, and potentially destabilizing the local community.
two features of towns and trade
Marketplaces and Trade Centers
Towns in Anglo-Saxon England, such as London and Winchester, often had markets where goods were exchanged. These towns became important trade centers, making the exchange of local goods and items brought from foreign lands.
Crafts and Specialization
Towns were also home to skilled craftspeople, such as blacksmiths, potters, and weavers. These towns allowed for the specialization of crafts, which contributing growth of local economies and trade.
What trials were used in the Anglo-Saxon era?
TRIAL BY JURY IN THE SHIRE- OR HUNDRED-COURT. The jury knew both the accuser and the accused.
TRIAL BY ORDEAL. The last resort, if trial by jury didn’t work. The accused would have to undergo an ordeal (e.g. trial by hot water). This showed the importance of religion
Describe the limits to the powers of Anglo-Saxon earls
-power relied on the strength of the king
[] with Cnut (strong leader), earls had less chance to challenge or intimidate for power as he would punish those who did immediately
[] with Edward, earls had more leeway, particularly the Godwinsons
-power relied on being in the king’s favour
[] earls would often fight over demonstrating themselves to be the most trustworthy or strong etc. in order to gain favour with the king and use it as a bargaining chip to get more power and land
-power relied on the support of people within their earldom
[] Tostig sent into exile because of the rebellions of thegns and normal Anglo-Saxons against him due to his abuse of power
What were the legal, political, military and economic functions of a shire ?
legal:
[] shire courts tried cases in the shire and gave punishments accordingly
economic:
[] each shire had a burh (fortified town) where all taxable trade took place
military:
[] each shire provided 1 man per 5 hides of land
political:
[] shire reeve acted as king’s representative in the shire, though had less power than the earls and could be manipulated or blackmailed by them because of this
what is collective responsibility
- It meant that individuals within a community, particularly a tithing (a group of ten households), were responsible for each other’s behavior. If one member of a tithing committed a crime, the other members were expected to bring them to court or face punishment themselves.
What were the duties of Anglo-Saxons to the king ?
obey the law
use the king’s coins
pay tax
perform (and provide) military service (40 days total per year) in the fyrd
Describe the composition and role of the Witan in Anglo-Saxon England
clergy
[] archbishops
[] bishops
[] allowed king to spread any messages or propaganda quickly using the Church hierarchy, as going to church was a huge social obligation and thus a chance to spread messages to large numbers of people all at once
-earls
some handpicked, trusted people of the king at the time
-Witan chose the succeeding king once the old one died
[] usually went to a blood-relative, but they had the power to overrule this if they were deemed unfit to rule
provided advice to the king on legal, religious, foreign, military and financial matters as well as helping to settle land disputes and tensions in the country
[] king did NOT have to take any of the Witan’s advice by law
