Medieval England c.1000 - c.1500 Flashcards
(60 cards)
1
Q
What time period is Medieval England?
A
c.1000 - c.1500
2
Q
What time period is Early Modern England?
A
c.1500 - c.1700
3
Q
What time period is 18th and 19th century Britain?
A
c.1700 - c.1900
4
Q
What time period is modern Britain?
A
c.1900 - present
5
Q
What time period is Whitechapel?
A
c.1870 - c.1900
6
Q
What time period is Anglo-Saxon England?
A
c.1000 - c.1066
7
Q
What is Collective Responsibility?
A
Community responsible for managing crime
8
Q
Describe societal structure in AS England
A
King
Noblemen
Freemen
Serfs
Slaves
9
Q
What was the King’s Peace?
A
The King’s law
10
Q
Explain why there was little to no crime AS England (4 points)
A
- Small communities so everyone knew each other
- Collective Responsibility was very effective
- The Church and the idea of going to Hell was a strong deterrent
- Reeves had the power to punish criminals
11
Q
Explain why crime was increasing in growing towns (2 points)
A
- People did not know each other as there were larger populations
- More valuable items for sale
12
Q
Name 4 crimes against the person
A
Murder, assault, public disorder, rape
13
Q
Name 3 crimes against property
A
Poaching
Theft
Arson
Counterfeiting coins
14
Q
Name 3 crimes against Authority
A
Treason
Rebellion
Poaching
15
Q
Name a social crime
A
Poaching
16
Q
What is a tithing?
A
- All men aged above 12 in a ‘hundred’
- A hundred is a division of a shire
17
Q
What is a hue and cry
A
- Victim or a witness to a crime yelled to alert other
- The whole community expected to hunt down criminal
18
Q
What is an oath?
A
Swearing a promise ‘before god’
Accused could swear their innocence under oath
19
Q
Who was a Shire Reeve
A
A person chosen locally to bring criminals to justice
20
Q
State three features of trial by hot iron
A
- mostly for women
- made to hold burning rod of metal
- if it healed well, they were innocent
21
Q
State three features of trial by hot water
A
- Mostly for men
- made to place hand in boiling hot water
- if it healed well they were innocent
22
Q
State two features of trial by cold water
A
- Thrown into a body of cold water blessed by God
- If they sank they were innocent
23
Q
State three features of trial by blessed bread
A
- Only for priests
- Accused would eat bread blessed by another priest
- If they didn’t choke they were innocent
24
Q
State four features of Wergild
A
- Fine for murder
- Paid to victim’s family
- compensation would depend on the status of the victim
- prevented blood feuds
25
For which two crimes was capital punishment the punishment and why was it used?
- Treason and Arson
- Retribution and Deterrence
26
What are four example of corporal punishment? Why was it used?
Beatings, Mutilation, Branding, Maiming
Deterrent
27
Two examples of public humiliation
Pillory - arms in holes
Stocks - ankle secures
28
What year did the Normans invade?
1066
29
What did William do to assert his authority? (2 points)
- Introduce new laws such as the Forest laws and the Murdrum fine
- Extremely harsh punishments, especially against rebels
30
What did Normans do to intimate the Anglo Saxons?
Build motte and Bailey castles all over the land, especially on high land areas
31
What was the Feudal System?
The Norman version of a societal system where William was at the top and AS peasants at the bottom
32
What were the Forest Laws? (3 points)
- 30% land went to Crown
- Only allowed to hunt by paying for hunting rights
- illegal to hunt, graze animals, take wood without license
33
State 3 reasons why normal people hated the Forest laws
- Took away natural resources that people relied
- Severe punishment for breaking laws
- It was seen as a social crime
34
State three examples of law enforcement that remained the same
- King's Peace (renamed King's Mund)
- Trial by Ordeal
- Collective Responsibility (Tithings and Hue and Cry)
35
State four methods of law enforcement that were introduced with Norman rule
- Trial by Combat (two people fight until one died or surrendered - died anyway)
- Castle Building
- Norman Shire Reeves
- Foresters (enforce Forest Laws)
36
State three punishments that changed with Norman rule
- Wergild Fine replaced with Murdrum Fine
- Brutal punishments for communities over induviduals
- Increased use of death penalty
37
What was the Murdrum fine?
- if the murderer was not caught the entire community (the hundred - area of land) would have to pay a fine
- the fine was paid to the king
38
What punishment was kept the same with Norman rule?
- corporal punishment
- fines
- hanging
39
When was the Later Medieval Period?
c.1200 - c.1500
40
What was the Statute of Labourers?
Made illegal to ask for higher wages
41
What were the New Hersey Laws?
Made it illegal to change the teachings of the Church as people heard of other religions
42
What began to replace the hue and cry in towns?
Governement appointed officials
43
What were the Assizes of Clarendon?
- Introduced by Henry ii
- standardised laws
- ordered royal judges to visit each country biannually
44
What was a coroner?
- Introduced by Richard i
- used for when cause of death was dubious
45
Who were the Justices of the Peace?
- Knight
- Landowners
- Sent to help enforce the law
- Answered directly to the King
46
Who were parish constables? (Three points)
Local officials appointed to keep law and order
Unpaid position
Held the post for one year
47
What new punishment was introduced in the Later Medieval Period?
Hung drawn and quartered
- hung till just alive
- castrated
- cut into four
48
Why was the Church so influential? (4 point)
- Clergymen were highly educated and respected
- Churches were large, intimidating buildings
- People believed in heaven and hell
- 20% of the country's wealth belonged to the Church
49
State two facts about Church Courts
- Were more lenient than normal courts
- Focused on reform
50
Describe Sanctuary (3 points)
- Criminals could stay in a church without trial
- 40 days to leave the country
- powerful churches like Westminster Abbey could provide permanent sanctuary
51
Describe the neck verse (3 points)
- A psalm from the bible that could prove you as a member of the clergy
- benefit of the clergy meant you were ONLY tried in a church court
- was exploited by criminals who memorised the 'neck verse'
52
Which king was the first to challenge the power of the church?
Henry ii (think Assizes of Clarendon!)
53
What did the Trials by Ordeal change to?
Trial by Jury
54
What were the royal courts?
- national courts
- dealt with most serious crimes
55
What were shire courts?
- medium crimes were dealt with in this court
56
Where were petty crimes dealt with?
In ‘hundred’ courts
57
After Norman conquer, how did role of local communities change? (Two ways)
- From 1250s - parish constables led chase for criminal after hue&cry
- some places had night watch, volunteers patrolled streets
58
When was trial by ordeal and by combat abolished?
1215
59
When was the Justice of the Peace Act?
1361
60
After the J of the P Act, how did the role of the JP change?
-had the power to hear minor crimes in small courts four times a year
