Anglo-Saxon Towns
History: KS3, topic 2.1.5
Anglo-Saxon Towns
England was one of the wealthiest countries in Europe. Towns were the centre of Anglo-Saxon life.
Trade
- England had strong trading ties with other countries around the continent.
- Trade centred around towns in England.
- Trade had to be carried out within the burhs, where it could then be controlled and taxed.
- The king had a sophisticated system for collecting taxes from towns. This benefited the crown, the nobles and the Church, which shared the proceeds from the tax.
Town and country
- Each shire had a principal town, known as the burh. This was the main fortified town in the region. Having a fortified town made it easier to defend against the Vikings when they attacked.
- People who lived outside the town could also hide, protected inside the burh if the region was attacked.
- 10% of English people lived in the towns during the 11th century.
Test yourself on Anglo-Saxon Towns
Who did NOT benefit from taxation?
What was the relationship between town and country in Anglo-Saxon England?
What was the name given to Anglo-Saxon walled towns?