Lesson 3 - Economy
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Exploring and understanding the use of currency in the Anglo-Saxon era and how the economy ran at the time.
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Lesson 3 - Economy
- 1. Focus: To assess the following in 9th century England: -Agriculture -Coinage -European Trade -Towns and Markets -Resources
- 2. A majority of the population was engaged in agriculture Each member of the community had his own strip of fertile land and the right to its holding. The Anglo-Saxons would usually use a crop-rotation method Fields were alternated between wheat, root, and livestock. An Ard was used to plough the soil before the invention of a plough. Scythes and sickles were used for harvesting
- 3. Economy was not cash based Coins existed, but were not commonly used Most goods were bartered. 550/650 AD – coins were first used in Anglo Saxon England. However, a number of these coins ended up as decorative pendants and were not truly circulated 785 – Offa of Mercia mints coins, which bore a portrait of him and his name “Offa Rex” meaning King Offa Coins were mainly used by professional Merchants and not the common people
- 4. Trade markets were most successful near rivers Danish settlers increased the amount of foreign trade London was one of the greatest trading centers. -Imports included: Wine Copper Tin Spices Sulfur Glass Silk Precious Garments Furs Exports included: Wool Hides Cheese Cloth Cloaks Embroideries Gold work
- 5. All trade needs an outlet, and this would have been in the markets of the burhs [a fortified town]. Everyone visited a burh at some time, usually to dispose of excess grain, livestock or dairy produce. By choosing his route carefully a merchant could be in a different burgh every few days. Most markets were set up by the king or earl in whose lands the burh lay, and there was usually some form of tax on the merchants' transactions. This tax would either be a daily charge (like hiring a stall at a car boot sale), or a charge proportional to the profits made (like an early VAT). Most successful markets were on, or near rivers, because water was the preferred method of transport, being quicker, less physically exhausting, and cheaper than roads.
- 6. All trade needs an outlet, and this would have been in the markets of the burhs [a fortified town]. Everyone visited a burh at some time, usually to dispose of excess grain, livestock or dairy produce. By choosing his route carefully a merchant could be in a different burgh every few days. Most markets were set up by the king or earl in whose lands the burh lay, and there was usually some form of tax on the merchants' transactions. This tax would either be a daily charge (like hiring a stall at a car boot sale), or a charge proportional to the profits made (like an early VAT). Most successful markets were on, or near rivers, because water was the preferred method of transport, being quicker, less physically exhausting, and cheaper than roads.