© Boardworks Ltd 2007 1 of 17 © Boardworks Ltd 2007 Britain 1066–1500 England Before 1066 1 of 17 Icons key: For more detailed instructions, see the Getting

© Boardworks Ltd 20071 of 17 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Britain 1066–1500

England Before 1066

1 of 17

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Learning objectives

Who were the English descended from?

How was England run?

What was England like in the 1060s?

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What was England like before 1066?


Old English life


The Romans left England in the 4th century AD.

The knowledge the Romans had brought was lost. Their settlements with their sophisticated sewerage and heating systems fell into disrepair. It was as if England had gone back in time.

In the 5th Century, the Saxons, Angles, Jutes and other Germanic tribes invaded Britain, forcing the native Celtic Britons out of lowland England.

In the 9th, 10th and 11th centuries, Vikings from Norway and Denmark also settled large areas of Britain.

Who were the English?





In 1066, England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales were separate states.

The kings of England were too busy keeping their own country together to worry about neighbouring lands.

Scotland, Wales and Ireland continued to be populated by native Celtic people.


At this time England's connection to Europe did not lie with France, just across the Channel, but rather with the Scandinavian countries, where the Vikings came from.

Friends in the north

England had been part of the Viking Empire of King Cnut up until 1034 and there was still a strong Scandinavian presence in the north-east of the country.


England was divided into a number of earldoms, each ruled over by a powerful leader (earl). These earls were meant to be loyal to the king, who was in reality little more than the ‘chief earl’.

Which of these earldoms do you think was most important?

Clue: Winchester was the capital of England.

The earldoms


The earldoms


The earls

The earls played a number of important roles in Anglo-Saxon life. They acted as governors and administrators. They were responsible for making sure law and order were upheld in their own areas. They sat as judges in local courts and collected fines and taxes. They advised the king on matters of foreign and domestic policy and were sometimes sent abroad on diplomatic missions.

The earls were also expected to be military men. They were responsible for protecting their people from raiders, and were expected to fight alongside the king if the whole country went to war.


The king

The king at this period was called Edward the Confessor.

The king was the most important man in the country. His job was to look after foreign policy and defence, to sort out disputes between the earls and to maintain law and order.

The king did not have absolute power. He had to answer to a kind of parliament called the Witenagemot. The Witenagemot was made up of the earls and senior churchmen. These men advised the king on matters of policy. They could also elect the king’s successor (not necessarily his son), and could even vote him out of office.


Eleventh-century sourcework


England was a Christian country. The country was part of the Roman Catholic Church, which was headed by the Pope (who lived in Rome). Many countries in Europe belonged to this church.

The Church was very wealthy and very powerful. Most people were very religious. They attended church regularly and believed that if they committed sin they would go to Hell after they died.

The Church

Sadly, this didn’t always stop people from doing bad things.

Why do you think this might have been?


The Church

The Church was also responsible for keeping learning alive in a period in which most people were unable to read or write. It was thanks to the monks that some of the knowledge of the Roman Empire was saved.

Monks spent hours copying out important documents – Biblical texts, for instance, or historical works. The most important manuscripts were lavishly illuminated – decorated with richly coloured pictures and designs, and sometimes adorned with gold leaf.

Some illuminated manuscripts are still in existence today. Do some research and see if you can come up

with any examples.


Society


Quiz: England before 1066

Documents

© Boardworks Ltd 2007 1 of 17 © Boardworks Ltd 2007 Britain 1066–1500 England Before 1066 1 of 17 Icons key: For more detailed instructions, see the Getting