The Anglo-Saxon Social Ladder

1. By: Catalina Gallegos, Ben Goodwin, Yvette Freire, Gabrielle Pizarro Period 3 The Anglo-Saxon Social Ladder

2. The Anglo- Saxons dominated England from 450 to 1066,until the Normans conquered them. They all depended on agriculture to survive, so many worked in the fields, yet some had special skills. They had developed their own culture by adopting other tribe tradition and securing their own. Villages could consist of many families or just a few houses. They tended to avoid Roman cities and build wall-cities outside Roman cities. Background:

3. The social ladder, consisted of a king, below are other nobles, then knights, then free peasants , and slaves.> The Anglo- Saxon community was a rural one, all classes lived on the land. However, there were subclasses in the ladder step, which had a specific role and title. Social Ladder:

4. The King and princes held special privileges and responsibilities which included military service and command in the field. It was not until the 9th century did the Wessex family take the title of royal family and had hereditary right to rule. However, it was the witan, or council of leaders, who decided which family member would inherit the throne, to determine which is fit to lead. King and Princes

5. Known as ruling noblemen, were under the king, the second highest power in the land. Their responsibility was to administrate justice, basically they were to maintain laws in the land and keep civil peace in the kingdom. They were also in charge of gathering the kings army, for battle. They did not pass this title from father to son, yet by the 10th century only few families had the privilege to become one. By the 11th century the title was changed to eorl, which held more power and were in charge of several shires. Later adapted to earl. Bishops, archbishops, and earls made up the high witan. Eoldermen

6. Basically, knights, who defended the land, primarily warriors. Most eorls, were high degns, but a majority of them where the king’s bodyguards. They held their lands from the king and could loss them , as well as their lives, if they did not answer the king’s summons. They accompanied the king everywhere. Good service, resulted in riches, land grants, and elevation to eorl or eolderman. Their blood-price was 1200shillings. Degns could come from a number of classes both below and above. Degn(Thane)

7. Some low knights, who carried out ‘common burdens ’, overseeing fortress work and bridge building. However some were not restricted to limited power and had dominion over some low degns. They tended to guard higher officials, as well. Degns

8. Cerols were freemen, farmers, and independent landed householders. Although they were called ‘free’, they did not hold the same freedoms as higher officials. They did have the privilege to collect blood-prices, bear arms, and were allowed to take part in meetings. However their blood- prices were 200 shillings. They were divided into three groups: geneateas, kotsetlas, and geburs. Cerols

9. Geneates were the peasant aristocracy. The geneat’s duty varies, depending upon what is determined for the estate. He must pay ground rent and work the land, as well as to take care of the jobs involved in the keeping of the land: mow, sow, maintain hides, build fences, guard and care for horses, deliver messages, conduct strangers in the house, pay church dues and alms, service and supply cartage, and entertain his lord. Geneatas

10. They did not pay rent, yet had to perform numerous duties for their overloads. They were given five acres of land, to work for their lords, had to guard the house when necessary, take care of the animals, pay alms, and can be called off to war by his lord. His labor was always available. Kotsetla

11. Gerburs were totally dependent of their lord, lives were dominated by the labors services owed to his lord. They would willingly give their land to oegns for protection. Their duties included working one acre a week in harvest time, take care of animals, and basically pay their lords a tax every month, varying from month to month. Example: In Easter he must pay two-pence or a young lamb. They must also work their land during this time, and if they need more seeds they must pay for their own or it comes out of their wages. Gerbur

12. Although the arrangements seemed one sided the lords had to give the cerols animal stock, two acres of land to live on, and were responsible for their lives. The economy depended on them, and they could also move up the ladder, by prosperity or military service, and even could claim offices. However, they could not reach eorl. Cerols cont.

13. Deow or slaves, had many rights and their were rules set down for what they should be provided with. For male slaves: 12 pounds of good corn, two sheep and a cow. They also held the right to cut down wood. For a female slave: 8 pounds of good corn, a sheep or three-pence for winter supplies, one sack of beans, and in the summer a penny. All slaves had to have Christmas supplies and Easter supplies, an acre of land to plough and a “handful of the harvest”. However they could earn their freedom, by working in their spare time or on their master’s deathbed. Some times during hard times some sold themselves to ensure their survival. Deow (slaves)

14. www.getting to know the anglo-saxons.com www.regia.org/Saxon.htm www.anglo-saxons.net www.bbc.uk/school/primaryhistory/anglo-saxon www.google.images.com Work Cited