Anglo-Saxon government, economy and society Flashcards

All 10 cards in this deck

What was the Witan?

The council of earls, archbishops and other leading men that advised the Anglo-Saxon king.

Give one reason Anglo-Saxon monarchs were so powerful.

They held huge areas of land and used it to reward loyal supporters or took it away as punishment.

What were shires used for in Anglo-Saxon local government?

They were the units of local government that collected taxes and fines.

True or false? Anglo-Saxon kings had no control over the money supply.

False. Monarchs decided how many silver pennies were made and what taxation was paid.

Why did people believe they had a duty to obey the Anglo-Saxon monarch?

Monarchs were believed to be chosen by God.

What duties did the very poorest villagers owe their lord?

Working a set number of days without pay, handing over a share of all crops, and needing the lord's permission to leave the village.

True or false? Anglo-Saxon kings left all legal cases to local officials and never judged cases themselves.

False. The monarch made the laws and travelled around the country to decide the outcome of legal cases.

Give two powers an Anglo-Saxon earl used on the king's behalf in his earldom.

Any two of: leading his thegns in war for the king; judging cases and keeping order; raising the earldom's taxes for the king (he kept a third to govern and defend it).

Who were the thegns in Anglo-Saxon England?

The local lords and warrior nobility, roughly 4,000–6,000 men, each holding at least five hides of land and expected to fight for their lord.

Give one reason the Church had political influence in Anglo-Saxon England.

Any one of: leading bishops always sat in the Witan, advising the king; very few people could read or write, so churchmen acted as the king's clerks and kept his records.