Anglo-Saxon law codes
I can describe one of the written sources from the Anglo-Saxon period and what historians have inferred from them.
Anglo-Saxon law codes
I can describe one of the written sources from the Anglo-Saxon period and what historians have inferred from them.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- One of the types of written sources we have from the Anglo-Saxon period are law codes.
- The laws concern compensation for injuries people caused each other, suggesting Anglo-Saxon society could be violent.
- Compensation differed according to status; the laws set out a strict hierarchy with enslaved people at the bottom.
- Unlike men women couldn’t receive compensation but they could own property as some laws mention inheritance for widows.
- By looking at who is mentioned and how the law affected them, historians have inferred a lot about Anglo-Saxon society.
Common misconception
Widow is a gender neutral term.
Widow is a gendered term for a woman whose husband has died. A widower is a husband whose wife has died.
Keywords
law - a law is a rule that tells people what they can and cannot do
Compensation - compensation is something given to make up for loss or harm
Hierarchy - hierarchy a system where people are ranked according to their importance or status
widows - widows are women whose husbands have passed away
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
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