2. A. Two Germanic tribes that invaded and then settled in Britain. B. Formed several independent kingdoms in England. C. Kingdoms were divided into districts known as shires (origin of the word sheriff). D. Alfred the Great eventually defeated the Danes (Vikings). E. Alfred’s successors could not hold onto the kingdom and the Danes regained control in 1013 with King Canute of Denmark.

3. F. The Anglo-Saxons re-took control of England when Edward the Confessor became king. G. Edward the Confessor died without an heir. 1. William of Normandy and Harold of Wessex fought over the British throne. 2. William won the throne in 1066 – became known as William the Conqueror. H. William set up a feudal system in England with the king having ultimate authority.

4. I. Henry I 1. Established the Exchequer to handle the kingdom’s finances. 2. Appointed traveling judges to try cases throughout the kingdom. J. Henry II 1.Established the practice of “trial by jury”. 2.Paid mercenaries as his army instead of nobles who may not be as loyal. 3.Fought bitterly with Thomas Becket over the issue of whether to try clergy in royal or church courts.

5. K. King John 1. Demanded higher taxes of nobles to finance war with France. This led to revolt. 2. Powerful nobles wrote the Magna Carta to establish the liberties of nobles and outline the basic rights of ordinary taxes. 3. King John was forced to accept the Magna Carta or face war within the kingdom.

6. A. Parliament – 1. Began as practice of councils of nobles meeting with representatives of the middle class. 2. Eventually divided into House of Lords and House of Commons (the same as today). B. Common Law 1. Collection of royal court decisions collected and used to make future decisions. 2. “Living law” – designed to change as conditions changed.

7. A. Capetian kings – named after Hugh Capet – were a dynasty of kings that followed the Carolingian kings. B. Philip the Fair (Philip IV) established the Estates General – a representative body that included nobles, commoners and clergy. C. Despite Philip’s efforts, France remained feudal instead of centralized, unified and organized.