Anglo-Saxon Society

ANGLO-SAXON SOCIETY

In Anglo-Saxon Society people were either free
or unfree. Men and women who were unfree
were classified as slaves. They would have been
given a small piece of land where they could live,
they would also be given food in exchange for
work.

Free men and women owned their own land, but
only just enough to live and work on in order to
keep and feed their families.

The working day was long and hard and men
worked the land from dawn to dusk, while the
women looked after the home and children, as well
as any animals that needed tending. Children were
also expected to work by gathering wood for fires,
and food such as birds eggs, berries and mushrooms.

One day each week men had to work on his
Lord’s land. Lords were both rich and powerful and
met with the King three times each year. They
were expected to provide soldiers from the men of
their villages if ever the King needed an army.
Unlike the Romans, Anglo-Saxons did not have an
army of professional soldiers.