Anglo-Saxon England: Society, Law, and Economy

The Linguistic Legacy

• According to the linguist Tom McArthur, “Old English and present-day English are as different from one another as Classical Latin and present-day French.”
• Basic tools of English—this, the, that, I, me, him, it—are of Anglo-Saxon origin.
• About 90% of the commonest words in English are of Anglo-Saxon origin.

What Were the Anglo-Saxons Like?

Insights from the 7th-century burial site at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk:

• Drinking vessels (glass and horn)
• Byzantine silver
• French coins in a purse
• Sword, shield, helmet: indicating high-status warriors.

The Laws of Aethelberht of Kent (7th Century AD)

Why are These Laws Important?

• What language did Aethelberht’s scribes choose? Why is this surprising?
• The Laws of Aethelberht are a compilation, an inventory—a list of customs-in-law enforced under the king’s authority, but not made by the king.

Political Organisation

Village Assemblies (Moots)

• Village assemblies or moots were held to settle disputes.
• “The procedure was calculated to avoid reasoned decision-making”
  • Love-day (amicable settlement)
  • Proof by oath
  • Oath-helpers (neighbours)
  • Ordeal (let God decide)

Ordeal by Fire

• A hot iron was placed in the litigant’s hand.
• His or her hand was bound for a few days.
• It was inspected. Festering meant that God was against the litigant.

Ordeal by Water

• The litigant was bound and lowered into a pond.
• If he or she sank, they were innocent!

Shires and Sheriffs

Large kingdoms (and later, England) were divided into shires. The royal official in each shire was the shire reeve (sheriff). Sheriffs were itinerant officials.

Shire Moots

Each shire had an assembly that met twice a year, attended by representatives of the church, the political class, and the people.

Social Hierarchy and Rank

• The aristocracy (sort of):
  • King/Queen
  • Ealdormen/Earls
  • Thanes
• Freemen
• Slaves/Bondsmen

Note that status was originally determined by property or appointment.

Economic Life

• Back to the land!
• Mould-board ploughs and yokes were used.
• Most important crops: barley and oats (for beer and porridge).
• Most important animal: the ox.
• Strip fields: proportion of up to 1 to 50.

Common land was also a feature.