The Saxons & Vikings
The Anglo-Saxons had Trial by Ordeal.
In the 7-9th cent. the situation started to change. Not all member stayed equal. Military
leaders & elders possessed more land & cattle and slaves. Land became private property,
could be sold or presented or given in return for debts to another owner. Free peasants began
to lose their freedom. Many fell into bondage. Lost their land. In return for the land had to
work on sb's land. Many nobles seized land by force.
Sheriffs became king's officials. Moots lost their importance. This was the beginning of
feudal relations. The man's position in the society depended on how much land he had. The
root of power was land. It was the beginning of a class system, made up of king, lords,
soldiers & workers on the land.
By 600 Saxon settlements had gradually formed 7 kingdoms (Essex, Sussex, Wessex, Kent,
Mercia, East Anglia, Northumbria). They were constant struggle against one another for
predominance
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