Anglo-Saxon England: Trade, Wealth, and Succession

Earls = The ruling nobility and the king's 'right hand man' in a shire Thegns = Formed the backbone of the Anglo-Saxon army and received lands from the king for good service Freemen = Upper group of commoners who held land freely and did not pay rent to a lord Serfs = Legally recognized as enslaved with no civil rights but could work on their own behalf

Witan = Council of leaders that had the right to choose the best successor to the throne Shire = Territory governed by an earl who was the king's 'right hand man' Kingdom of Wessex = Royal family universally recognized as the English royal family by the middle of the 9th century Landholding = Received by some for good service, rising to become earls or freemen

Craft activities like blacksmithing = Lower group working on land held by a lord or for others Selling or exchanging crops = Done by freemen who held land freely and did not pay rent to a lord Working for others in exchange for food and shelter = Done by many who held no land in exchange for basic needs Earning enough to buy own freedom = Possible for those legally recognized as enslaved with no civil rights

<p>Tithings = Group of ten families responsible for maintaining order Constable = Elected by Hundreds to maintain order Shire-reeve = Head of the shire responsible for collecting fines or taxes Earl = Controlled the shire and paid one third of fines or taxes to the king</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Hundreds court = Where local cases were heard Hundred = A group of ten Tithings Outlaws = People outside the law who could be hunted down Blood feuds = Long fights between families resolved by paying money</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Breaking into someone's home = Five shillings fine paid to the homeowner Stealing = Nose or hand might be cut off as punishment Injuring someone = 'Botgeld' payment to the victim Killing someone = 'Weregild' payment to the dead person's relatives</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Timber, leather, textile = Materials used in most houses Stone = Used mainly for major churches Wood, metal, pottery = Used for household goods Glass and foreign items = Traded for hunting dogs and slaves</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Facing the sun = For heat and light in houses High fences = For protection around most villages Natural resources nearby = Water, wood, and food sources Fortified towns (burhs) = Built to protect against Viking raids</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Alfred the Great = Initiated fortification of towns (burhs) King = Appointed officials in charge of local courts Shire-reeve (Sheriff) = Collected fines or taxes in each shire Earl = Controlled the shire and paid one third of collected fines or taxes to the king</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Hall = Biggest house where the king and warriors lived Villages = Composed of less than 100 inhabitants Burhs (fortified towns) = Built to advance defense force against raiding Danes Roman houses = 'Short-lived' compared to Anglo-Saxon houses</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Hunting dogs and slaves = Traded for glass and other foreign items Household goods (wood, metal, pottery) = Made from these materials Foreign items = Exchanged for hunting dogs and slaves Water, wood, food sources = Near which villages were built</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Digging a very deep trench = - Building wooden or stone walls around towns Building wooden or stone walls around towns = - Positioning large gates at either end of town burhs Large gates positioned at either end of town burhs = - Digging a very deep trench as first step of fortification process Settlers building fortifications in exchange for free plot of lands = - Step taken in building effective burhs against Viking raids</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Gild system = Payment system for injuring or killing someone Botgeld = Payment made if a person injured someone else Weregild = Payment made if a person killed someone else Outlaws = People who were outside of the law after committing a crime</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Witan</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>shire</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>freemen</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>serfs</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>thegns</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>disputes</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>sheriff</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Hundreds</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Hall</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>textile</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>fortifications</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>shillings</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>fences</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>prisons</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>hunted</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>burhs</p> Signup and view all the answers