england in anglo-saxon times

Question 1

who was the most powerful in anglo-saxon england?

Answer 1

the king

Question 2

who were the most important after the king

Answer 2

earls

Question 3

what are thegns

Answer 3

local lords, lived in manor house, had more than 5 hides of land. duty to provide men for fyrd

Question 4

how much of the population did slaves make up

Answer 4

10%

Question 5

how were ceorls different from peasants

Answer 5

they were free to work for another lord, whereas peasants worked for their local lord

Question 6

what was the witan (and who made up the witan)

Answer 6

council of advisers to the king, made up of archbishops and earls

Question 7

give 2 features of the earl

Answer 7

• collected taxes
• in charge of justice and legal punishments in their earldom
• had great military power (each had group of housecarls)

Question 8

what is the fyrd

Answer 8

an army made up of one man from every five hides

Question 9

each earldom was divided into…

Answer 9

shires

Question 10

each shire was divided into…

Answer 10

hundreds (equal to 100 hides)

Question 11

each hundred was divided into…

Answer 11

tithings (group of 10 households)

Question 12

give 2 features of the shire reeve

Answer 12

• collected fines
• enforced law
• provided men for fyrd
• collected geld tax

Question 13

what is a burh

Answer 13

well-fortified town linked by roads

Question 14

what year did edward the confessor die

Answer 14

1066