Anglo-Saxon Culture
Anglo-Saxon society was decidedly patriarchal, but women were in some ways better off than they would be in later times. A woman could own property. They could have ruled a kingdom if their husband died. She could not be married without her consent. If she were injured or abused in her marriage her relatives were expected to look after her interests. Men however, were different. If they were kings, they could not make new laws, only inforce the ones already existing.
There life expectancy was surprisingly short, adults would only live up to 30 years. The community had to worry about capital punishment if they get out of line and if they break any laws. They also had to worry about diseases like leprosy and tuberculosis, which were very common in their time.