Anglo Saxons and Norman England

Question 1

What were earls and what did they control?

Answer 1

Most important nobles and advised the king
Controlled large ares of England called earldoms

Question 2

Who were the Witan?

Answer 2

King’s advisors (a meeting of wise men)

Question 3

What were Thegns?

Answer 3

local lords who owned land and fought for the kind in war (trained fighters)

Question 4

By 1060, how many Thegns were there?

Answer 4

between 4000 and 5000

Question 5

What was a shire?

Answer 5

a county area in England

Question 6

What was a hundred?

Answer 6

A subdivision of a shire, having its own court

Question 7

What were ceorls?

Answer 7

Free men (peasants) who owned their land and who could choose which lord they worked for

Question 8

What were peasant farmers?

Answer 8

those who rented land from the local lord 3 days each week in order to keep their land

Question 9

What percentage of the population were slaves?

Answer 9

10%

Question 10

What was the Wergild?

Answer 10

The cash value of someone’s life - used to compensate victims of crime - higher rank = higher compensation

Question 11

What was a hue and cry?

Answer 11

Calling on fellow villagers to chase a criminal (if people failed to help they could be fined)

Question 12

What was a trial by ordeal?

Answer 12

A method of determining a person’s guilt/innocence by subjecting person to painful tests controlled by God - e.g picking up a red hot iron/being held underwater.
If the person survived/wound healed 3 days after, the person was innocent in the eyes of God

Question 13

How much land did the church own in the Anglo Saxon era?

Answer 13

25% of England

Question 14

What was the Royal mint?

Answer 14

Where the money was made - coins were made from German silver

Question 15

How many bishops were there?

Answer 15

15

Question 16

Who were the 2 archbishops?

Answer 16

Canterbury and York

Question 17

When did Harold Godwinson become Earl of Wessex?

Answer 17

1053

Question 18

When did Tostig become Earl of Northumbria?

Answer 18

1055

Question 19

How many earldoms did the Godwinsons control?

Answer 19

4 out of 5 earldoms

Question 20

How did the Godwinsons become so powerful?

Answer 20

Edith Godwinson married King Edward
Wealthier than the king
Weak king so easily influenced by the Godwinsons
Harold married Edith of Mercia - sister of Edwin and Morcar (political marriage hoping to gain support from Morcar - Earl of Northumbria at the time)

Question 21

When was Harold Godwinson coronated?

Answer 21

6th January 1066

Question 22

When did Edwin and Morcar attack Tostig because of his tyrannical rule?

Answer 22

October 1065

Question 23

When did Harold go on an embassy to Normandy?

Answer 23

1064

Question 24

When did Edward the Confessor die?

Answer 24

5th January 1066

Question 25

When was the battle of Gate Fulford?

Answer 25

20th September 1066

Question 26

When was the battle of Stamford bridge?

Answer 26

25th September 1066

Question 27

When was the Battle of Hastings?

Answer 27

14th October 1066

Question 28

What were the 3 reasons for William's victory?

Answer 28

William's tactics William's leadership Harold's lack of tactics/leadership

Question 29

When was William crowned?

Answer 29

25th December 1066

Question 30

What were the 3 reasons for building castles?

Answer 30

Control Symbol of power Protection

Question 31

When was the revolt of Edwin and Morcar?

Answer 31

1068

Question 32

When did the rebellions in the North with Edgar Aetheling occur?

Answer 32

1069

Question 33

When was the rebellion at Ely with Hereward the Wake?

Answer 33

1070 - 71

Question 34

When was the Harrying of the North?

Answer 34

1069 - 70

Question 35

When did the changes to land ownership occur?

Answer 35

1066 - 1087

Question 36

When did the revolts of the earls occur?

Answer 36

1075

Question 37

After 1072, where did William spend most of his time?

Answer 37

Normandy

Question 38

What were the 3 main reasons/factors of the Domesday Book?

Answer 38

Financial Military Legal

Question 39

When did Bishop Odo become earl of Kent?

Answer 39

1067 and was given 22 counties

Question 40

When was Odo imprisoned for taking church land, misruling and planning his claim for papacy

Answer 40

1082

Question 41

When the revolt with Robert Curthose occur?

Answer 41

1077-80