a law is a rule that tells people what they can and cannot do

compensation is something given to make up for loss or harm

hierarchy a system where people are ranked according to their importance or status

widows are women whose husbands have passed away

Anglo-Saxon law codes

History

In 'The Anglo-Saxons: how do we know about life in Anglo-Saxon England?' pupils learnt about Anglo Saxon culture and society in more detail, and the evidence base for the claims that historians make about this period. In 'The Vikings: why did they come to the British Isles?' pupils learn about another wave of migration to Britain: the Vikings.

In 'Britain’s settlement by Anglo-Saxons: what changed after the Romans left?' pupils learnt how Anglo-Saxon migration changed Britain after the Romans' departure. In 'The Anglo-Saxons: how do we know about life in Anglo-Saxon England?' pupils learn about Anglo Saxon culture and society in more detail, and the evidence base for the claims that historians make about this period.

The Anglo-Saxons: how do we know about life in Anglo-Saxon England?

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Immoral behaviour or minor criminal offences, e.g. shoplifting, graffiti.

Depiction or discussion of upsetting content

a rule that tells people what they can and cannot do

something given to make up for loss or harm

a system where people are ranked according to their importance

Match the words to the correct definition.

religious texts that were used in monasteries

secret messages used during fighting over kingdoms

lists of rules that everyone in the kingdom had to follow

collections of Anglo-Saxon poetry and stories

Anglo-Saxons were advanced in medical knowledge.

What do the laws about compensation for injuries people caused each other suggest about Anglo-Saxon culture?

earls (looked after the land for the king)

thegns (soldiers who looked after villages)

freemans (peasants who worked on the thegn’s land)

enslaved people (had no rights and were property of others)

Order the Anglo-Saxon social hierachy starting with the most important and ending with the least important.

Complete the sentence:  Women whose husbands have passed away are called {{ }}.

What would Anglo-Saxon widows often inherit from their husbands?

They were traded between the Anglo-Saxons and the Franks.

They were given as a gift to the Anglo-Saxon king buried at Sutton Hoo.

They had been stolen from the Franks by the Anglo-Saxons.

Why were there Frankish coins in Anglo-Saxon Britain? 

True or false:  Roman coins continued to be used by the Anglo-Saxons after the Romans left Britain in 410 CE.

Choose the correct historical definitions of the word 'mint'.

He thought it would make the coins worth a lot more.

He wanted to show everyone what he looked like as.

Why did the Anglo-Saxon king, King Offa, mint coins with his head and face on them?

What did archaeologists find that shows that the towns and trade increased once the Romans had left Britain?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of upsetting content

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Anglo-Saxon law codes

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.