Crime, law enforcement and punishment in the Anglo-Saxon, Norman and later medieval periods, including the role of religion and the King, community policing through the tithing and the hue and cry, trial by ordeal and jury, and the use of fines, mutilation and execution.

The thematic-study describe question (4 marks, AO1). Reward two distinct, developed features, each with one supporting detail. Keep it short.

Feature one. Communities policed themselves through the tithing: every male over 12 belonged to a group of around ten men collectively responsible for each other's behaviour, who had to produce any member accused of a crime.

Feature two. When a crime was discovered, the victim or witness raised the hue and cry, a loud shout, and everyone who heard it was legally obliged to stop work and join the chase to catch the criminal.

Top marks. Two distinct features, each developed with precise detail.

The thematic-study extended essay (cap shown is 12; the real Eduqas thematic essay carries the SPaG marks). Build a balanced argument across the medieval period and reach a supported judgement.

Agree. Religion shaped much of the system: trial by ordeal relied on God revealing guilt; the Church ran its own courts, offered benefit of the clergy and sanctuary, and defined moral crimes (heresy, not attending church).

Disagree. Other factors mattered too: the King and royal authority defined treason and the Forest Laws and built royal courts; community and custom (tithings, the hue and cry, wergild) ran day-to-day justice; and fear and deterrence shaped punishment.

Judgement. Decide how far religion was the most important influence. A strong line is that religion was hugely important early on but that royal power grew steadily over the period, so its importance changed over time. Write accurately to secure the SPaG marks.