Transcript Slide 1

Timeline of European and British History – An idiot’s guide!
500BC 400AD
Roman
1066AD
AngloSaxon
1500AD
Middle
Ages Norman
1750AD
1900AD
Early
Industrial
Modern - Revolution
Tudor
Twentieth
Century
2000AD
What happened to
the Romans?
218BC
Rome started off as a city
built on Seven Hills. By
about 500BC the city had
conquered most of Italy
100BC
By 100BC they had
conquered Greece and parts
of Spain, France, Turkey and
Africa.
44BC
The Empire continued to
expand throughout
Europe and Africa
AD116
At the Height of the Empire, the only
land left unconquered was land that
they didn’t want. Scotland, Ireland and
Northern Germany was considered
poor farm land with little to offer.
AD275
By About 300AD, the politicians in Rome
were so busy arguing amongst
themselves that the Boundaries were
neglected. The Romans began to pull out
of some countries.
AD450
Barbarian tribes fought for their independence. The
purple shading below shows the Empire of Attila the Hun.
He was chief of an incredibly powerful Germanic tribe.
AD476
Eventually the Barbarians overran Italy and
the great city of Rome was captured. The
Roman civilisation crumbled and much of its
knowledge was lost. This is why the period
from 500AD to 1000AD is sometimes called
the Dark Ages.
Anglo Saxon Britain 4001000AD
Each Anglo-Saxon Kingdom
had its own king. The king
was responsible for making
the law and protecting his
people. Sometimes the
different kingdoms went to
war with each other.
All men over the age of 12 were
organised into groups of 10. These
were called Tithings.
If one member of the tithing
committed a crime and wasn’t
caught, the other 9 members of the
tithing had to pay the fine.
Members of tithings that were
chasing criminals called the Hue
and Cry. This was when they
asked members of other tithings to
help chase criminals.
During Saxon times the position of
Shire-Reeve was invented. This was
an early form of Sheriff. They helped
to organise the Tithings.
They were appointed by the King.
The majority of crime was Theft. This
is the same for all time periods.
There was very little violent crime.
Refusing to help the Tithing was a
crime.
Selling weapons that are later used in a fight was illegal in most
kingdoms
Being a Witch was not strictly illegal.
Although you could be executed for
murdering someone with witchcraft.
It was a crime if you dog attacked
someone.
Normally you were fined.
If you accidentally felled a tree onto
someones’ head, you had to give the tree to
the widow.
Fighting in front of a king’s official
would get you into all kinds of
trouble.
If you stole from Church you lost you
hand
Falsely releasing the Hue &
Cry would also get you in
trouble.
Similar to Roman times, the
AngloSaxons didn’t like slander.
Slanderers had their tongues cut off.
There weren’t really any new crimes.
Unlike Roman times, a noble sentenced
to death, would be executed.
The Blood Feud was the system in which if
someone killed a member of your family,
you could kill a member of theirs.
In the later Saxon period it was replaced by
the Wergild. This was a system of fines
that had to be paid to anyone you harmed.
Slavery was given as a punishment for
certain crimes.
As with the Romans, prisons were only
used to hold people awaiting trial. They
preferred to use Stocks and Pillory.
Mutilation is the name given to a
punishment that removes part of the
body. Such as cutting out the tongue,
chopping off ears or removing an arm or
leg.
The Kings made the laws in Anglo-Saxon England. They were advised by
a council known as the Witan.
There were juries for serious cases but
they were made up of people who knew the
victim and the accused.
Compurgators were oath swearers
who came court to defend the
reputation of their friends.
If a Jury couldn’t decide guilt, it went to
Trial by Ordeal. This wass based on
the theory that God wouldn’t let an
innocent man suffer.
There were ordeals by hot water, cold
water, hot Iron and consecrated bread.
The Hierarchy of Courts
Royal Courts held by knigs for
very important cases
Shire Courts held twice a year by
King’s official, dealt with serious
cases.
Hundred Courts held once a
month to sort minor crimes and
organise the tithing.
Manor courts held by lords to
sort out their workers.
There were also Church Courts to punish
priests that had been naughty.
The Church also began to offer Sanctuary.
This was when Outlaws who has escaped
their Tithings could go to the church. They
would stay there for 40 days and then the
priests would escort the criminals to the
nearest Port and put them on a boat.