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.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
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.
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
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.
To help you plan your year 5 history lesson on: Anglo-Saxon law codes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 history lesson on: Anglo-Saxon law codes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the The Anglo-Saxons: how do we know about life in Anglo-Saxon England? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson 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