Download The Anglo-Saxon Social Ladder

The Anglo-Saxon Social Ladder
By: Bruno Garcia, Carlos Lizarraga,
and Nicole Ventura (p. 4)
An Overview of the Anglo-Saxons
The Anglo-Saxons arose while
the Roman Empire was
weakening and Roman troops
withdrew from the British Isles,
leaving behind somewhat
Christianized Celts, Picts, Scots,
and Britons. “Political” power fell
to the remaining unstable tribes.
Anglo-Saxon culture was highly
influenced by their fighting way
Anglo-Saxon Rule
•
•
Anglo-Saxon rule began after the fall of the Roman
Empire around the year 410 AD
Their reign no longer existed after the Battle of Hastings
in 1066
Anglo-Saxon Creation
•
Although they migrated around
400 AD, the Anglo-Saxon nation
wasn’t split into seven different
kingdoms until about 700 AD, in
which they could create their
social classes in different
kingdoms.
Where Did It Apply?
•
•
The Anglo Saxons created seven kingdoms
spread out across Great Britain.
The four main kingdoms being: Wessex,
East Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria
The King and Ealdormen (top)
The King: The king was seen
as war leader who led his
men into battle. Ruled over
the land and the people.
Ealdormen: Held immense
power being responsible for
implementing justice on the
land, raised and led the Fryd
(Militia formed during times of
war)
Thanes and Ceorls (middle)
Thanes: Professional military,
served the king or Ealdormen,
provided kingdom with solid
foundation for the army.
Ceorls: Craftsmen and farmers,
some relatively prosperous but
most were little more than serfs.
Required to take part of the Fryd.
Could become Thane if he owned
5 hides of land
Bondsmen and Wergild (bottom)
Bondsmen (Slaves): Had
few rights, could be
punished or killed with no
recourse. Mostly prisoners
of war or Saxons who were
forced to sell themselves to
escape debts.
Wergild: Blood price, money
paid to avoid feud if
someone was killed. 200
Works Cited
http://oldenglishteaching.arts.gla.ac.uk/Units/2_Life_in.ht
ml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/anglo_saxons/saxon
s.shtml
http://public.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/medieval/anglosaxon.html