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Crime and Punishment in Britain, c1000–present

Nature and changing definitions of criminal activity, c1000–c1500

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 1

Overview

Petty theft as the commonest crime, crimes against the person, treason as the most serious offence, social crime and poaching, moral crimes in the Church courts, William I's Forest Laws and why they were made and resented, and the murdrum fine.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Which crime was committed most often in medieval England?

Key term

Give two examples of medieval crimes against the person.

Key term

Which offence was regarded as the most serious of all in medieval England, and why?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Which crime was committed most often in medieval England?

    Model answer

    Petty theft, especially of food, clothing and livestock.

  2. 2

    Give two examples of medieval crimes against the person.

    Model answer

    Murder and assault.

  3. 3

    Which offence was regarded as the most serious of all in medieval England, and why?

    Model answer

    Treason, because plotting against the king was seen as an attack on God's chosen ruler and on the whole kingdom.

  4. 4

    What is a social crime?

    Model answer

    An illegal act that most ordinary people did not think was truly wrong, so communities often refused to report or punish it.

  5. 5

    Why did villagers treat poaching as a social crime?

    Model answer

    They believed taking a rabbit or a deer to feed a hungry family was fair, whatever the law said.

  6. 6

    Which offences did the Church courts deal with as moral crimes?

    Model answer

    Behaviour such as drunkenness, failing to attend church, adultery and swearing, which were sins rather than harm to a victim.

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AThe huge loss of life left England short of workers.
BForeign craftsmen and labourers were wanted.
CCompetition for work also bred resentment.

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