Anglo-Saxon law

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/anglo-saxon-law

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the legal terminology?Old English terms include 'ǣ' (law), 'lagu' (law), and 'dōm' (judgment, decree)
2. What is the primary legal sources?Unwritten folk-right (customary law) and written royal law codes
3. What were Anglo-Saxon laws and where did they come from?Anglo-Saxon laws were rules made by kings and communities in England from the 6th century. They started as Germanic customs and later were written down by kings.
4. How did people in Anglo-Saxon England keep each other honest?They used the frankpledge system, where groups of men were responsible for each other's behavior. If someone broke the law, the whole group could be punished.

Folk-right: The foundational body of unwritten customary law derived from the traditions and practices of the Anglo-Saxon people.
Witan: A council of prominent men, including nobles and church leaders, who advised the Anglo-Saxon king on matters of state and law.
Danelaw: A historical region in England where Viking laws and customs predominated following their settlement and conquest.
Ealdorman: A high-ranking official in Anglo-Saxon England, responsible for administering justice and maintaining order in a specific region.