The cloth trade was the most important contributor to the English economy during the reign of Henry VII - Assess validity

Introduction

1. Key part of Henrician society

Agree

1. Roughly between 80-90% of all exports

2. Treaties with HRE - all aimed at securing trade shows importance

3. 1485 Navigation Acts - Gascony wine to benefit trades

4. Development of the cloth trade in England (60% increase in cloth exports from 1485-1509) - more profitable (encouraged farmers to enclose/engross farms) - finished cloth - new cottage industries - many economies across/europe relied on cloth (Wool used to clothe everyone: England clothes Germans, Eastern Europeans)

Disagree

1. Discovery of Newfoundland - exploration potential (John Cabot, Sebastian Cabot, 1497/8)

2. Other industries starting to grow - tin, lead

3. Taxation (feudal dues: relief, £6000 PA + marriage dues, subsidies on top of original 10ths/15ths)

Conclusion

Provide balanced judgement