E X T E N S I O N GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY The Anglo-Saxons created institutions that made England strong for the next 500 years. One of these institutions was the King s Council, called the Witan. Probably at first1 the Witan was a group of old warriors2 and churchmen who gave advice3 or support to the king. The king could decide to ignore the Witan s advice, but it was dangerous to do so because the Witan had the right to choose a king and to control him. Even today, the king or queen has a privy council4 that gives advice on the affairs of state. The Anglo-Saxons divided the land into administrative areas called shires. These shires, established before the end of the 10th century, remained almost exactly the same for a thousand years. Shire is the Saxon word, county the Norman one, but both are still used. In every Saxon village there was a large house, or manor, where local people paid taxes, got justice and joined the army. Each manor had a lord that organized life in it. At first the lords, or aldermen, were simply local officials5. But in the 11th century they became warlords6 and were often called by a new Danish name, earl. Both words, alderman and earl, still exist. The aldermen are now government officers, the earls are noblemen. This marked the beginning of the feudal system then developed by the Normans. 1. 2. 3. 4. at first: at the beginning. warriors: soldiers. advice: suggestion, opinion. privy council: council of the crown composed of prime ministers and councillors. 5. official: a person who has a position of responsibility. 6. warlords: military leaders. 87