an earl was a leading member of both Anglo-Saxon and Norman aristocracy, ruling an earldom on behalf of the king

a thegn was a lower member of the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy; they were warrior lords holding smaller areas of land than an earl

the aristocracy is a class of people who hold high social rank, often inheriting their status and wealth

a hierarchy is a system in which people are put at various levels or ranks according to their importance

Anglo-Saxon society

History

In this unit, pupils study an aspect of British medieval history in depth. They learn about the social, economic, religious and political events that influenced the lives of those who lived in this period.

British depth study: Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88

the fyrd was an army which consisted of part-time soldiers called up by thegns and earls when ordered by the king

a shire reeve (sheriff) was a king’s legal officer who enforced laws in a shire

piety is strong religious faith that is shown in the way someone lives

The Danelaw was an area in Anglo-Saxon England which had previously been invaded and settled by Danes (Vikings) and had retained some laws and customs that were different from southern England

the Witan was a group of leading aristocrats who advised the king

The Anglo-Saxon monarchy

a shire was the largest unit of administration after an earldom and had its own court

in Anglo-Saxon England, a hundred was a unit of land administration within a shire

a tithing was a group of ten households; together they administered minor disputes in their communities

a hide was the basic unit of administration, the measurement of land which could support one household, which carried obligations of tax and military service

a burh was a fortified town within a shire where most trade would take place

Earldoms and local government in Anglo-Saxon England

the economy is the system of trade and industry by which the wealth of a country is made and used

a bishop is a senior member of the Christian Church in charge of an area containing several churches

an archbishop is a bishop of the highest rank who is in charge of churches and other bishops in a particular large area

piety means living in a way that is devoted to religion

The Anglo-Saxon economy and the role of the Church

exile is when someone is sent away from your home country

an Anglo-Saxon adviser was a high-ranking noble who gave advice to the monarch, such as an earl or bishop

a successor is a person expected to inherit the throne after the monarch has died

a House refers to a dynasty, a group of leaders or rulers from the same family

a chronicler is someone who writes a record of historical events

Edward the Confessor and the House of Godwin

an uprising is an act of opposition, sometimes using violence, by many people in one area of a country against those who are in power

Danegeld was a tax raised to give to the Danes (Vikings) to prevent further invasions

housecarls were the elite soldiers that guarded important people

nobles were people with a high rank in Anglo-Saxon society: earls, bishops, thegns

The uprising against Earl Tostig Godwinson

a claimant is a person who declares their belief that something belongs to them or that they have a right to it

a succession crisis occurs when there is no clear heir to a position

a mercenary is a soldier who fights for any country or group that pays them

legitimacy means that something can be proved to be right by law or according to customs

in Anglo-Saxon England, an aethling was a prince of royal blood

Claimants to the throne in 1066

a fleet is a group of ships, or all of the ships in a country's navy

casualties are the people injured or killed in a war or in a specific battle

a hostage is someone who is taken as a prisoner by an enemy in order to force the other people involved to do what the enemy wants

The battles of Gate Fulford and Stamford Bridge

the Anglo-Saxon fyrd was an army made up of mostly untrained conscripts from England’s peasant population

the housecarl was an elite unit of the Anglo-Saxon army: a well-trained and well-equipped soldier

the knight was the elite unit of the Norman army: a soldier who fought on horseback, riding a specially-trained war horse

a shield wall is a military tactic where soldiers stood in a long line overlapping their shields to form a wall of shields

a feigned retreat is when soldiers pretend to retreat in order to lure the enemy into a more vulnerable position

The Battle of Hastings

a turning point is the time at which a situation starts to change in an important way

the term logistically is used to describe the effective organisation of a complicated activity or event

being strategic is doing things which help to achieve a wider plan, for example, in war or politics

a tactic is a planned way of doing something, or a specific action intended to achieve a wider strategy/plan

Reasons for William’s victory at the Battle of Hastings

plundered is when goods have been stolen violently from a place, especially during a war

harrying is persistently harassing or carrying out attacks on an enemy or an enemy's territory

submission is the act of allowing someone or something to have power over you

in this lesson, supplies are food or other things necessary for an army to operate

foraging is going from place to place searching for things that you can eat or use

The submission of the earls in 1066

a regent is a person who rules a country for a limited period, because the monarch is absent or too young or too ill

tribute is when you pay money and declare loyalty/submission to your ruler, especially on a formal occasion

a Marcher earl was a noble appointed by the king of England to guard the border (known as the Welsh Marches) between England and Wales

a sheriff was an official who oversaw law and order in a local area on behalf of the monarch

Rewarding followers and the Marcher earldoms

a motte-and-bailey castle is a fortress in which there is a motte (small hill) surrounded by a bailey (courtyard) inside an outer wall

to oppress is to govern people in an unfair and cruel way and prevent them from having opportunities and freedom

a keep is the strong main tower of a castle which acted as a watchtower and a final point of defence

a palisade is a strong fence made out of solid wooden poles that is used to protect people or a place from being attacked

Motte-and-bailey castles

a revolt is when a large number refuse to be controlled or ruled, and take action against authority, often violent action

The Northern and East Anglian rebellions

when something is done systematically it is done in a way that is done according to an agreed set of methods or organised plan

a scorched-earth policy is the act of an army destroying everything in an area such as food, buildings, or equipment that could be useful to an enemy

a famine is a situation in which there is not enough food for a great number of people, causing illness and death, or a particular period when this happens

a refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution or natural disaster

The Harrying of the North

tenants-in-chief were the large Norman landholders who held land directly from the monarch

a tenant is a person who pays for the use of land or a building

The legacy of Anglo-Saxon resistance

An earldom was a large area of land ruled by an earl on behalf of the king.

A regent is a person who rules a country for a limited period, because the monarch is absent or too young or too ill.

A garrison is a group of soldiers that are stationed in a castle.

The revolt of the earls in 1075

feudal refers to a hierarchical social system where people receive land to live and work on from those higher than them, and in return have to work and fight for them

paying homage was to publicly submit and swear an oath of fealty (loyalty) to someone above you in the feudal system

an overlord in the feudal system was someone who granted land in return for service

a vassal in the feudal system was someone who provided a service (e.g. labour) to an overlord in return for land

a fief was a parcel of land given by an overlord to a vassal in return for their service to their overlord

The feudal system in Norman England

Normanisation is the process of making something more similar to or typical of Norman styles, beliefs, customs, etc.

reform is when you make changes to improve something

simony is the buying or selling of advantages or paid positions in the Christian Church, which was considered to be a sin

pluralism is the practice of holding more than one religious office at the same time

The Anglo-Norman Church

elite refers to the richest, most powerful, best-educated, or best-trained group in a society

continuity is the fact of something continuing for a long period of time without being changed or stopped

government is the group of people who officially control/rule a country

Change and continuity in Norman England

a survey is an examination of specific details, opinions, behaviour, etc., made by asking people questions

a manor is a unit of land overseen by a lord - a lord’s large manor house is also a feature

geld is the name of a tax traditionally used to defend England against (Viking) invasions

The significance of Domesday Book

the aristocracy are a class of people who hold high social rank, often inheriting their status and wealth

chivalry is the system of behaviour followed by knights, that put a high value on bravery, mercy, justice, and generosity

living in a way that is devoted to religion is known as piety

Romanesque is the style of building that was fashionable in Western Europe which recalled the power of the Roman Empire

penance is to punish yourself to seek God’s forgiveness for a sin

The Norman aristocracy

a regent is a person who rules a country for a limited period, because the monarch is absent, too young or too ill

someone who is focused on the secular is focused on things that have no connection with religion or the spiritual world, such as land and money

Bishop Odo of Bayeux

succession is the process in which someone automatically inherits a position or property after someone else

a realm is an area ruled by a monarch, duke or other legitimate ruler

primogeniture is the custom of a family's property going to the oldest son when the father dies

British depth study: Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88

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These lessons will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.