Anglo-Saxon Crime
What is a crime against the person?
An action that causes physical or emotional harm to another person
What was a tithing?
A group of ten men responsible for each other's behaviour
What was a wergild?
A fine paid to the victim's family as compensation for murder
Define poaching
Name the official chosen by the local community to help enforce the law
Shire Reeve (or Sheriff)
Define corporal punishment
A punishment that causes physical harm or pain to the body
What is a social crime?
An act that breaks the law but is often ignored or not reported because people do not see it as serious
Who was most commonly put through a trial by hot iron?
Women
Why were prisons rarely used as punishments?
Very expensive to run as the king did not collect taxes for anything beside war.
Give two reasons why crime levels were low in the countryside
People knew eachother
Criminals were easy to identify
Communities shared responsibility
Fear of shame or Hell deterred crime
How does a trial by cold water work?
The accused was lowered into blessed water. If they sank, they were considered innocent; if they floated, they were guilty
How did a wergild prevent blood feuds?
Compensated a victims family and could stop them seeking revenge by killing the offender
Why would nobles have wanted to influence what actions were defined as crimes?
Nobles could influence him to protect their land and wealth, such as by making poaching a crime
Explain the roles of community and religion in Anglo-Saxon law enforcement
Community - collective responsibility, helped prevent and detect crime
Religions - Hell, religious oaths sworn as a means of trial, influenced how guilt was decided
Explain how Anglo-Saxon punishments worked as a both retribution and deterrence
Punished offenders for the crime, and also warned people not to offend. E.g. a public hanging punished the crime and frightened onlookers.