During his reign as King of England, Canute established a new class of nobles who became known as earls. The authority of the earls was second only to the king himself. The king and the nobles ruled over the common people or peasants who were known as churls. The peasants tended to the farms, and their culture and lifestyle produced many words which have survived in Modern English. We examine the etymology of words and phrases associated with farming, livestock, bread making and knitting.
TRANSCRIPT: EPISODE 61
Map Prepared by Louis Henwood (louis-henwood.com)
Episode 61: Earls and Churls | The History of English Podcast - Listen or read transcript on Metacast
