England before 1066

Question 1

Describe the government before 1066 (2)

Answer 1

• Ruled by King Edward the Confessor since 1042. The calm and order of Edward’s rule followed a time of instability
• The country was divided into earldoms. Earls could become very powerful and needed to be well managed by the king to maintain order

Question 2

Describe the population before 1066

Answer 2

The population was around 2 million, with the majority living in the southern part of the country

Question 3

Describe the society before 1066

Answer 3

There was a clear hierarchy in Anglo-Saxon society. The king was at the top, followed by the earls and the clergy. The peasants were at the bottom

Question 4

Describe the defence before 1066

Answer 4

The king and the earls commanded 2500-3000 professional soldiers known as housecarls. They also had the right to call upon the peasants to fight for them in times of need

Question 5

Describe the religion before 1066

Answer 5

Religion was central to the lives of Anglo-Saxons and the Catholic Church was very powerful. Led by the Pope in Rome but controlled in England by bishops and other members of the clergy, the Church owned large amounts of land and made rules on everything from marriage to inheritance

Question 6

Describe the wealth before 1066 (3)

Answer 6

• England was wealthy and was a target for foreign raiders like Vikings. This put coastal areas, particularly in the north, at risk
• Trade, notably with France and Scandinavia, allowed England to add to its wealth
• It had one of the most advanced economic systems in the world with its own minting system for producing coins and a treasury that co-ordinated taxation and spending by the government

Question 7

Other than the king, who else was the most powerful man in England?

Answer 7

Godwin, Earl of Wessex

Question 8

Which bit of land did Godwin and his family control?

Answer 8

Godwin and his family controlled the largest and most important earldom in his country, stretching from Cornwall in the south-west to Norfolk in the east

Question 9

What type of respected leader was Godwin?

Answer 9

Military leader

Question 10

How did Godwin’s family’s power increase further?

Answer 10

Over time, the family’s power increased further with the marriage of Godwin’s daughter, Edith, to the king and the appointment of his sons, Sweyn, Harold and Tostig, to powerful positions

Question 11

What happened in 1052 to do with the Godwin family and the king?

Answer 11

After a public falling out in 1052, Edward exiled the family but less than a year later they returned with a large army. The king was unable to raise an opposition force and simply had to accept Godwin’s return