Who had the most power in the Anglo-Saxon Society?

Who had the least power in the Anglo-Saxon Society?

Who were the Witan?

Name the three sections earldoms were divided into.

Why was the Wergild system introduced?

Describe three problems the king faced in Anglo-Saxon England.

Title: What was life like in Anglo-Saxon Society?

Learning Objectives-Recap the structure of Anglo-Saxon society (towns, villages and churches). -Explain how the Anglo-Saxon economy functioned.

Who had the most power in the Anglo-Saxon Society?The monarch (king)

Who had the least power in the Anglo-Saxon Society?Slaves

Who were the Witan?A council or advisors for the king

Name the three sections earldoms were divided into.Shires, hundreds and tithings (tithings made up of hides)

Why was the Wergild system introduced?Blood feuds were failing as they carried on for generations, giving compensationDescribe three problems the king faced in Anglo-Saxon England.Earls (power and money), the Danelaw (different laws), Witan not supporting

Title: What was life like in Anglo-Saxon Society?

Learning Objectives-Recap the structure of Anglo-Saxon society (towns, villages and churches). -Explain how the Anglo-Saxon economy functioned.

Title: What was life like in Anglo-Saxon Society?

Learning Objectives-Recap the structure of Anglo-Saxon society (towns, villages and churches). -Explain how the Anglo-Saxon economy functioned.

Mutual respectIndividual Liberty

Rule of lawTolerance

Democracy

How does life in Anglo-Saxon England compare to today?

• Describe two features of the Witan.

One feature of the Witan was…

This included…

Another feature of the Witan was…

This included…

This question is worth 4 marks.

You get 2 marks per feature.

A feature is something distinctive or characteristic e.g. one feature

here might be the system of earldoms.

Each feature needs a supporting detail. This is some specific information that shows you

understand the feature.

Title: What was life like in Anglo-Saxon Society?

Extension: Self assess your answer. How many marks would you give yourself?

The Anglo-Saxon economy

Historians are not entirely sure about what England produced that enabled it to trade so effectively, but we are going to find out about some key areas of trade at this time. Towns were key hubs for trade, and by 1066, something like 10% of the population of England lives in towns.

Annotate the source you have been given. What do you think it shows about Anglo-Saxon towns?

Challenge: What do you think towns were used for?

Learning Objectives-Recap the structure of Anglo-Saxon society (towns, villages and churches). -Explain how the Anglo-Saxon economy functioned.

The Anglo-Saxon economy

Learning Objectives-Recap the structure of Anglo-Saxon society (towns, villages and churches). -Explain how the Anglo-Saxon economy functioned.

Buhrs were no more than 15 or 20 miles from safety if news of a Viking raid reached them.

They were trading hubs. The king made sure if trade worth a high value was to take place, it happened in a buhr so that the king could receive tax.

Towns grew in importance because of international trading links. For example, York was a centre for trade with Denmark; Bristol was the centre for trade between the west of England and Viking settlements in southern Ireland. London was the biggest trader, with links to Germany, France, Normandy and Flanders.

The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms faced a major threat from Viking invasions and as a result many towns were fortified against attack. These fortified towns, known as burhs, were not very sophisticated but they were effective.

The first step in constructing a burh was to dig a very deep trench, and then to build a wooden or stone wall around the town. Inside the walls the burhs were not very different to any other town except for the large gates on either end of the town that controlled who came in and out.

The Anglo-Saxon economy

Annotate the source you have been given. What do you think it shows about Anglo-Saxon villages?

Challenge: What do you think villages were used for?

Learning Objectives-Recap the structure of Anglo-Saxon society (towns, villages and churches). -Explain how the Anglo-Saxon economy functioned.

Historians think that many of the villages in England today began in Anglo-Saxon times, but not as clusters of houses gathered around a church. Villages were more likely to be a large number of quite isolated homes and farms scattered over the countryside.

The houses were made of wood and thatched with straw, and were homes for lots of relatives living together rather than just one family.

Many thegns lived in the countryside too. Their manor houses were larger and better built than peasant huts. Some of these manor houses may have been fortified against attack. Thegns often built a church on their land too, and employed a priest to hold services for the thegn’s household.

Learning Objectives-Recap the structure of Anglo-Saxon society (towns, villages and churches). -Explain how the Anglo-Saxon economy functioned.

Match the description to the picture.

In your own words, why do you think England was prosperous (rich) at this time?

Challenge: What challenges can you see to the prosperity of England at this time?

Match the description to the picture.

Why do you think England was prosperous at this time?

Challenge: What challenges can you see to the prosperity of England at this time?

Salt

Lead

Silver

Churches

London

Wheat

Copper and Tin

Coins

Fish

Wool

Learning Objectives-Recap the structure of Anglo-Saxon society (towns, villages and churches). -Explain how the Anglo-Saxon economy functioned.

Use the information around the room to find out about the Church in Anglo-Saxon England.

Challenge: Explain why the Church was very powerful in Anglo-Saxon England.

Now we’ve done the first 3 lessons, check your knowledge of the key words. Choose 5 words and complete the vocabulary activity!

Challenge: Use the words in sentences about Anglo-Saxon Society.