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Questions and Answers
What year did the Romans invade Britain?
What year did the Romans invade Britain?
Which of the following groups were described as a mixture of Germanic peoples and the Celtics in Britain?
Which of the following groups were described as a mixture of Germanic peoples and the Celtics in Britain?
Who were Hengist and Horsa in relation to Vortigern?
Who were Hengist and Horsa in relation to Vortigern?
What language did the Anglo-Saxons speak?
What language did the Anglo-Saxons speak?
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What historical period does the term 'Anglo-Saxon' refer to?
What historical period does the term 'Anglo-Saxon' refer to?
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What prompted the migration of the Anglo-Saxons to Britain?
What prompted the migration of the Anglo-Saxons to Britain?
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What significant event marked the beginning of the Viking Age?
What significant event marked the beginning of the Viking Age?
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Which group of people did the Vikings predominantly raid in Britain?
Which group of people did the Vikings predominantly raid in Britain?
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What were Viking ships primarily known for?
What were Viking ships primarily known for?
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Which term describes the council of leaders that chose the successor to the throne in Anglo-Saxon England?
Which term describes the council of leaders that chose the successor to the throne in Anglo-Saxon England?
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What was the primary reason for the Vikings leaving their homeland?
What was the primary reason for the Vikings leaving their homeland?
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In which region did most Viking invaders settle in England?
In which region did most Viking invaders settle in England?
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What role did the thegns play in Anglo-Saxon society?
What role did the thegns play in Anglo-Saxon society?
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What was the role of a shire-reeve in Anglo-Saxon law and order?
What was the role of a shire-reeve in Anglo-Saxon law and order?
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What was a consequence of being found guilty of a crime in Anglo-Saxon England?
What was a consequence of being found guilty of a crime in Anglo-Saxon England?
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Which term describes the compensation paid for killing someone in Anglo-Saxon law?
Which term describes the compensation paid for killing someone in Anglo-Saxon law?
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Where did Anglo-Saxon villages typically get built?
Where did Anglo-Saxon villages typically get built?
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What was the primary purpose of fortifications known as burhs?
What was the primary purpose of fortifications known as burhs?
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How did Viking laws differ from those of later civilizations?
How did Viking laws differ from those of later civilizations?
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Which event marked the beginning of the Viking Age?
Which event marked the beginning of the Viking Age?
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What was a Holmgang in Viking culture?
What was a Holmgang in Viking culture?
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What was a primary reason for Viking raids on monasteries?
What was a primary reason for Viking raids on monasteries?
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What was the primary reason for Anglo-Saxon commoners learning Norman French?
What was the primary reason for Anglo-Saxon commoners learning Norman French?
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What was a key tactical advantage the Normans had over the English during the battle?
What was a key tactical advantage the Normans had over the English during the battle?
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What did William the Conqueror use to help consolidate his power in England?
What did William the Conqueror use to help consolidate his power in England?
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Why did the Norman archers initially struggle during the battle?
Why did the Norman archers initially struggle during the battle?
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What was one characteristic of the feudal system established by William?
What was one characteristic of the feudal system established by William?
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What is suggested by the term 'Middle English' as used in this context?
What is suggested by the term 'Middle English' as used in this context?
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What does the Domesday Book represent in historical context?
What does the Domesday Book represent in historical context?
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What event is associated with the Peasants' Revolt in 1381?
What event is associated with the Peasants' Revolt in 1381?
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What was the Viking alphabet known as?
What was the Viking alphabet known as?
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What material was primarily used by Vikings for making outer clothing due to its durability?
What material was primarily used by Vikings for making outer clothing due to its durability?
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Which event marked the end of the Viking Age?
Which event marked the end of the Viking Age?
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Who claimed the English throne based on a promise made to his father?
Who claimed the English throne based on a promise made to his father?
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Which of the following was a martial arts system practiced by the Vikings?
Which of the following was a martial arts system practiced by the Vikings?
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What did the Witan need to do after King Edward the Confessor died?
What did the Witan need to do after King Edward the Confessor died?
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What role did Harold Godwinson hold before becoming king?
What role did Harold Godwinson hold before becoming king?
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Which of the following was NOT a contender for the English throne after King Edward's death?
Which of the following was NOT a contender for the English throne after King Edward's death?
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What did the Vikings primarily inscribe runes on?
What did the Vikings primarily inscribe runes on?
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After the Norman conquest, what happened to most Anglo-Saxon nobility?
After the Norman conquest, what happened to most Anglo-Saxon nobility?
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Study Notes
Roman Invasion and Anglo-Saxon Arrival
- Romans invaded Britain in 43 AD but did not assimilate
- Britons were the inhabitants of Britain before the Anglo-Saxons
- Anglo-Saxons, descendants of Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes), migrated to Britain in the 5th century from northern Germany
- Anglo-Saxon migration was possibly prompted by an invitation from Vortigern, a British ruler, to fight threats
- The Saxons were initially hired as mercenaries, but eventually conquered territory
- Anglo-Saxons' language, Old English, is the ancestor of modern English and related to other Germanic languages
- The term "Anglo-Saxon" emerged in the 8th century and refers to a period of British history from the late Roman period to 1066
Viking Invasion
- Vikings originated from Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Sweden)
- "Viking" in Old Norse means "bay" or "creek", referring to their seafaring lifestyle
- Vikings were explorers, traders, and warriors; largely rural society with minor towns
- Increased shipbuilding and overpopulation contributed to Viking migration
- Raids started in the late 8th century
- Viking ships, longships, were advanced and could carry large numbers
- Vikings primarily targeted Christian monasteries in Britain and raided for treasure
- Vikings settled in Danelaw (north and east England)
- Viking trade included furs, amber, timber, slaves, and other goods
- Vikings played significant roles in trade across Europe, the far east, and Central Asia, exchanging goods and acquiring slaves
- Scandinavian thralls or slaves were about 10 percent of the population
- By the 10th century, descendants of Alfred of Wessex reconquered Scandinavian areas of England, and Erik Bloodaxe was the last Scandinavian king in England
- England, during the Anglo-Saxon period, was one of the wealthiest kingdoms in Europe, with considerable trade and land use.
Anglo-Saxon Society and Structure
- Wessex royal family was recognised as the English royal family by the mid-9th century, though succession wasn't guaranteed
- The Witan (council of leaders) chose the best successor from the royal family
- Earls were the ruling nobility, appointed by the king to govern shires
- Thegns were a lower nobility, who served in the army and could rise to become earls through service
- Freemen were commoners who owned land, part of local courts
- Serfs were enslaved persons with no civil rights
- Anglo-Saxons had a system of courts with hierarchies: individual, local (hundred) courts up to shires
- Anglo-Saxon justice relied on fines, execution, outlaws
- Gild system was in place to settle disputes, such as botgeld (injury) and weregild (murder)
- Anglo-Saxon homes were usually made of timber, leather, textile, with larger churches in stone
- Villages were built near natural resources, protected by fences
The Norman Conquest
- King Edward the Confessor's death in 1066 led to succession disputes
- Four contenders: Edgar the Aetheling, Harald Hardrada, Harold Godwinson, William, Duke of Normandy.
- Harold Godwinson was crowned king and defeated Harald Hardrada in 1066
- William defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066
- William became known as William the Conqueror, establishing Norman rule
- Anglo-Saxon nobility either were exiled or became a part of the peasant class
- The Norman Conquest resulted in significant land redistribution and a shift in power dynamics
- The new rulers established a new feudal system
Domesday Book
- William commissioned a detailed survey of land ownership in England called the Domesday Book in 1086.
- The survey listed land ownership details and estimated values to aid taxation, and understanding population numbers
- The results indicated large-scale land control by William and the Normans, reduced Anglo-Saxon control to around 5 percent
- The Domesday Book is a useful primary source of information on medieval England and the Norman Conquest (for Example: 45 vineyards).
Castles
- Motte-and-bailey castles were built of wood; stone keep castles built on top of the motte providing protection, often replacing motte-and-bailey castles.
- Concentric castles had multiple walls, providing further defense
- William built castles as a way to suppress any opposition to his rule.
Repression and the Harrying of the North
- William implemented the "Harrying of the North" (1069-1070) to subdue resistance.
- Villages were burned, farm animals were slaughtered, crops were destroyed
- This was a brutal tactic to crush rebellion and assert control
Viking and Anglo Saxon Living Standards
- Viking houses were wooden or stone structures, with space often shared by families and animals
- Cesspits were used as toilets, with communal decision making through assemblies known as "Things"
- Laws were passed by word of mouth and enforced through fines or by "holmgang", a type of duel
- Vikings practiced "Glima". Viking women often played respected roles.
- Anglo Saxon homes were relatively short-lived given material use (timber, leather, and textiles), with churches being the only buildings made of stone.
- Anglo-Saxon villages were small, fewer than 100 inhabitants in size.
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Description
Explore the historical events surrounding the Roman invasion of Britain and the subsequent arrival of the Anglo-Saxons. This quiz covers key figures, migration causes, and the impact of these groups on British history and language. Test your knowledge of this significant period from 43 AD to 1066.
