The economy of England: the system of taxation; royal mints and the silver…

The idea

The late Anglo-Saxon economy of England was advanced, featuring a national system of taxation, unified coinage and thriving trade. The king levied the geld, a land tax, and customs dues to fund the state. Royal mints produced the silver penny of consistent weight and fineness, supporting commerce. Coastal towns like Dover and Southampton were hubs for overseas trade with Scandinavia and France, exporting wool and importing luxury goods. This trade, alongside local markets, drove urbanisation and the growth of trading centres such as York and Winchester.

What earns the marks

• Explains the system of taxation, including the geld and customs dues, and how these were assessed and collected to fund the state.
• Describes the operation of royal mints and the silver penny, noting the king's control over coinage, the number of mints and the standard of weight and fineness.
• Outlines the role of coastal towns and overseas trade, identifying key ports like Dover and the goods exchanged with Scandinavia, the Low Countries and France.
• Explains urbanisation and the growth of trading centres, including the development of inland hubs like York and the role of trade in stimulating urban growth.
• Analyses the relationship between the system of taxation, royal mints and overseas trade, and how they contributed to the wealth of the late Anglo-Saxon state.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Assuming that taxation was ad hoc.

  Put it right: The geld was a regular, sophisticated land tax assessed on hides, forming a key part of the system of taxation.

• Believing that coinage was decentralised and inconsistent.

  Put it right: The king controlled the royal mints, and the silver penny was struck to a uniform standard, which facilitated trade.

• Including heregeld as an active tax in the period c1053–66.

  Put it right: Edward the Confessor abolished the heregeld in 1051, so focus on the geld and customs dues for this specific timeframe.

Exam tips

• Use specific examples of taxes, such as the geld, to show how the system of taxation raised revenue for the king.
• When discussing coinage, mention the role of royal mints and the silver penny's standard, and explain how this supported trade.
• For questions on urbanisation and the growth of trading centres, distinguish between coastal towns for overseas trade and inland trading centres like York.