Anglo-Saxons Flash cards

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  • Created by: KHand21
  • Created on: 19-11-16 08:13
What was the structure of Anglo-Saxon society?
1.King 2.Earl 3.Thegn 4.Ceorl 5.Peasant farmers 6.Slaves
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What was the role of a King?
Ruled through inheritence and the "divine right." Had lots of power, wealth and land. Advised by Bishops and Earls.
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What was the role of an Earl?
They controlled Earldoms. Most powerful families in England. Got 1/3 of revenue from their Earldom, generals in the military, oversaw justice.
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What was the role of a Thegn?
Local land lord. 4000-5000 by 1066. Held 5 hides and a manor house. Got land from Kings and Earls. Payed a heriot tax.
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What was a Ceorl?
Free peasant farmers. Could go and work for who they wanted. Carried out services to their local lord.
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What was a Peasant farmer?
Rented small farms from the Thegn. Had to complete a small amount of work. Each family had 1 hide (120 acres)
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What was a Slave?
10% were slaves. Bought and sold. Could not be hurt else they were damaged goods. Treated as property.
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Was your position in society fixed?
You could change your position, peasant farmer could become a thegn or you could be demoted.
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Why was Anglo-Saxon society different from Norman society?
You could change your position. Normans didn't believe in Slaves.
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What was the oath sworn by boys when they reached 13.
"All shall swear in the name of the Lord, before whom every holy thing holy, that they will be faithful to the King...."
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What did the oath show and mean?
Loyalty, religion is the heart of the monarchy, afraid of rebellion, no automatic loyalty.
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What were the duties of a monarch?
To make new laws, control production of silver pennies,grant and take away land, control an army, decide when taxes should be collected
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What was the Witan?
A council of Earls and Bishops that advised the King. Discussed threats from modern lands, religious affairs and land disputes. Like a modern day Parliament.
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What were Shire Reeves or Sheriffs?
Collected taxes (geld tax), collected fines, upkeep of roads, enforced the law, provided men for the fyrd
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What was the fyrd?
Military service, 1 man for 5 hides, in service for 40 days, select fyrd and the general fyrd.
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Poisitives of having a select fear
Fight better, greater chance of success, trained soldiers.
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Negatives of having a select fear
Money could have gone to other projects, fewer fighters, lacked passion.
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What did people consider justice?
To treat everyone of the same social standing in the same way.
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What was a blood-feud?
A revenge system, a victims family could kill a member of the killers family
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What was the Wergild system?
Compensation, the killers family would pay a certain amount for each person they killed
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How much was each member of a social class worth?
Ceorl 20 shillings, Thegn 1,200 shillings, Earl/ Archbishop 3,600 shillings 1 shilling= £100
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What was the hue and cry?
When all the members of a tithing came together to hunt for a criminal.
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What were the men of the tithing responsible for?
Good behaviour of all the households.
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What happened if one of the tithing did something wrong and what is that system known as?
All of the tithing were punished. Collective responsibility.
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Describe a village.
Lots of isolated homes made of wood and straw where large families lived.
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What bought these families together?
Thegns who lived in manor houses. Relgion as each village had a Church.
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What products were used for trade?
Boats, cotton, wool, animals (sheep), crops
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Where did silver used for coins come from?
Germany
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What products did England import?
Wine and silver
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Where were most goods made?
In one of the 6000 mills .
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What was the population of England's major cities?
London & York 10,000 Norwich & Lincoln 6,000
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Why did high value trade have to take place in burhs?
Taxes, whatever that trade was worth they had to have that amount in money.
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Which country did York, London and Bristol trade with?
York: Denmark London: Germany and France Bristol: Ireland and Viking England
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Where did most people live in 1066 and what was the percentage?
The countryside, 90% lived there.
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What made burhs secure?
15-20 miles apart, troops could move quickly, linked by roads, constructed with walls on hills and were looked after by inhabitants
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Features of the Anglo-Saxon church
Bishops advised on the Witan, priests were no celibate, believed in different Gods, fear of going to Hell
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Define Anglo-Saxons
People who settled in Britain after the Romans left
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Define the Aristocracy
The people in society who were seen as being important because of their wealth and power, which they usually inherited
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What were hides?
Measurement of land equal to about 120 acres.
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Define Thegns and Earls
Paid a heriot tax, given that position by a King or Earl Ruled a region on behalf of the King, aristocrats
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What is an oath?
A solemn promise sworn on holy relics.
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Define a shire reeve
Officials of the King who managed estates, collected revenue and ran local courts
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What was being anointed?
Puting on sacred oil as part of a religious ceremony.
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What was Danelaw?
Part of England where Viking power had been the strongest.
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Define an embassy
Official visit from the representative of a foreign ruler.
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What were housecarls?
Highly trained soldiers that acted as bodyguards
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What were the fyrd?
Men of the Anglo-Saxon army
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What were hundreds?
Measurements of land, 100 hides
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What were tithings?
An administrative unit that was a group of ten households.
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What was the geld tax?
Tax on the land to pay off the Vikings (danegold)
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Define blood feuds
System of revenge
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What was a burh?
Anglo-Saxon term for a town.
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What did celibate mean?
Unmarried and not involved in sexual relationships.
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When was the Anglo-Saxon period?
AD410 to 1066
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What was the role of a King?

Back

Ruled through inheritence and the "divine right." Had lots of power, wealth and land. Advised by Bishops and Earls.

Card 3

Front

What was the role of an Earl?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What was the role of a Thegn?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What was a Ceorl?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

LeBigFish

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Anglo-Saxon Kingship was not inherited, it was decided by the Witan. Inheritance was reintroduced with William I

aluxe

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what's a select fear

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