Anglo-Saxon Governance and Justice

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Questions and Answers

Who held the highest social status in Anglo-Saxon villages?

Ceorls

Thegns (correct)

Thralls

Villagers

What was the role of thralls in Anglo-Saxon society?

Lords who protected the villagers

Slaves who worked for the ceorls (correct)

Free men who worked the land

Merchants in the towns

What social class did ceorls belong to in Anglo-Saxon England?

Nobility

Clerics

Free men (correct)

Merchants

What term describes the amount of land needed to support a family in Anglo-Saxon England?

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In exchange for protection, what did ceorls and thralls provide to their lord?

Food rent and labor Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT a responsibility of ceorls in Anglo-Saxon society?

Protecting the village Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary economic activity of the majority of Anglo-Saxons?

Farming the land Signup and view all the answers

How did towns emerge in Anglo-Saxon England?

From villages growing into marketplaces Signup and view all the answers

Which social class was considered to have the highest wergild value?

Thegns Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary function of the earls in Anglo-Saxon society?

Military commanders and local rulers Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about thralls is true?

They were the lowest social class and had the least value in wergild. Signup and view all the answers

How did the structure of the Witan support social hierarchy?

By including the most powerful men in decision-making. Signup and view all the answers

Who were usually the individuals that Edward the Confessor would invite to the Witan?

Earls, thegns, bishops, and abbots. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of Anglo-Saxon society, what was the role of family regarding justice?

Families were expected to seek revenge for wrongs done to them. Signup and view all the answers

What was wergild and what purpose did it serve in Anglo-Saxon society?

A life-price paid by the murderer’s family to the victim’s family. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following options best describes the influence of the earls on Edward's rule?

Their military support was crucial for maintaining power. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of coins in the kingdom?

To make it easier for the king to collect taxes Signup and view all the answers

Which metal was most commonly associated with England's key export during the period?

Wool Signup and view all the answers

What resource was England known for supplying to Europe?

Tin Signup and view all the answers

What role did fertile agricultural land play in the economy of England?

It decreased reliance on imported food Signup and view all the answers

How did lead contribute to Roman infrastructure in England?

It was used to create water pipes Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about fish during this period is true?

Fish was abundant in the surrounding seas Signup and view all the answers

In terms of social hierarchy, why was the production of wool significant?

It was tied to the prosperity of the textile industry Signup and view all the answers

What unique aspect characterized Anglo-Saxon humor?

It relied on jokes and riddles Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Running the Country

Edward the Confessor ruled England with help from the Witan, an assembly of 'wise men'.
The Witan was made up of powerful men, including earls who ran large areas of England in return for military support.
Edward could invite anyone to the Witan, but it was beneficial to invite the most powerful men to secure their allegiance and prevent rebellions.
The Witan consisted of various people, including earls, thegns, bishops, and abbots.
Witans didn't always meet in the same place or consist of the same people, depending on Edward's location and the issues needing advice.
Witans only offered advice; Edward could still make his own decisions.

Anglo-Saxon Justice

Anglo-Saxon justice was rooted in the family system.
If someone was wronged, their family was expected to seek revenge.
Everyone had a "wergild," a life-price, with thegns worth more than ceorls, who were worth more than thralls.
If a person was murdered, the murderer's family had to pay the victim's wergild in full.
For lesser crimes, proportions of the wergild were paid.
Saxons held regular open-air meetings called "folk-moots" to deal with lawbreakers.

Working on the Land

Most Anglo-Saxons lived in villages and worked on the land.
There were ceorls (free men) and thralls (slaves).
Each ceorl worked at least one "hide" of land (enough to support a family) in open fields surrounding villages.
They grew barley, rye, wheat, peas, beans, and flax.
Barley was used for beer, rye and wheat for bread, and flax for cloth.
Sheep, pigs, hens, and cows provided wool, meat, eggs, and milk.
Honey from bees was used for sweetening.
Villages had a lord, usually a thegn, who provided protection.
In return, villagers worked the lord's land and paid "food rent" (eggs, meat, peas, milk, etc.).

Working in Towns

Some villages grew into towns.
In AD 1000, about 10% of England's population lived in towns.
Towns grew from markets where people bought and sold goods.
Some towns specialized in crafts like leatherworking, weaving, or soap-making.
Coastal towns became busy ports, with ships transporting goods within England and to Europe.
By the 11th century, England was a prosperous country, attracting potential invaders.

England's Prosperity (11th Century)

England was a center of trade and wealth, with leading towns like London.
Important resources included iron for tools and weapons, silver for mining, salt for food preservation, and honey, copper, and tin for diverse uses.
Lead was a valuable metal used for water pipes, and coins, minted in 60 locations across England, facilitated taxation.
Fertile land in southern and eastern England allowed for abundant wheat and other crops.
Fish was plentiful in England's surrounding seas.
Wool was the most important industry, with English wool being sold throughout Europe.

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Description

Explore the intriguing structure of Anglo-Saxon governance under King Edward the Confessor and delve into the unique justice system rooted in family and personal responsibility. This quiz examines the roles within the Witan assembly and the concept of wergild, highlighting the societal norms of the time.