Untitled Flashcard Set

Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church was the dominant religious institution in medieval Europe, profoundly influencing both the spiritual and temporal aspects of society. It shaped the moral framework, established educational institutions, provided healthcare, and contributed to charitable endeavors, thus playing a crucial role in community life and governance.

Great Chain of Being

The Great Chain of Being is a hierarchical structure that orders all entities in the universe, including both living things and social classes, based on a God-given hierarchy. In Tudor society, this concept justified social stratification, asserting that every role, from the monarch to the commoner, was divinely ordained, thereby reinforcing social norms and expectations.

Yeomen

Yeomen were a class of landowners in Tudor England who owned and cultivated their own land, distinguishing them from both the gentry and laborers. They played a pivotal role in agriculture and society, demonstrating a mixture of independence and economic strength as they contributed to the agricultural economy while also representing a form of upward social mobility.

Vagrants

Vagrants were individuals without a permanent residence or means of livelihood, often viewed as a social problem in Tudor England. They were typically the lowest class in society, subject to harsh laws and regulations meant to control begging and manage poverty, reflecting wider societal concerns about stability and order.

Printing Press

The printing press, brought to England by William Caxton in the late 15th century, was a revolutionary technological advancement that greatly enhanced the dissemination of knowledge. It enabled the mass production of books and pamphlets, leading to increased literacy and the rapid spread of new ideas, including those related to religion, politics, and science, ultimately challenging traditional authorities.

Tithes

Tithes were mandatory contributions made by farmers to support the Church, typically amounting to a tenth of their produce or income. This system served as a primary source of funding for ecclesiastical operations, ensuring that the Church could sustain its functions within society while also providing for the spiritual needs of the populace.

Subsistence Level

Subsistence level refers to the basic threshold of living where individuals or families can barely meet their fundamental needs for food, shelter, and clothing. During the Tudor period, many rural inhabitants lived at or below this level, hampering their ability to thrive economically and contributing to the overarching issues of poverty and social instability.

Merchant Adventurers

The Merchant Adventurers were a significant trading organization in Tudor England that dominated the cloth trade during Henry VII's rule. They were responsible for transporting English cloth to international markets and importing foreign goods, thereby playing a crucial role in shaping England’s economic landscape and trade relations.

Cloth Trade

The cloth trade was the backbone of England's economy during the Tudor period, accounting for around 90% of England's exports under Henry VII. The trade was primarily controlled by the Merchant Adventurers, who aimed to shift England's focus from exporting raw wool to finished cloth, thereby enhancing profitability and supporting domestic textile industries. Key policies included the 1489 Act, which prioritized English merchants and reduced reliance on raw wool exports, leading to a 30% decline in raw wool exports and a significant 60% increase in finished cloth exports by the end of Henry's reign.

Intercursus Magnus

The Intercursus Magnus was a crucial trade treaty established in 1496 that facilitated the restoration of trade relations between England and Burgundy after political tensions. This treaty granted English merchants the right to trade freely throughout Burgundy, though it excluded Flanders, thereby enhancing England's trade opportunities in the region and leading to increased economic exchange despite prior strains.

Hanseatic League

The Hanseatic League was an influential economic alliance of German cities and states that controlled trade in the Baltic region during the late Middle Ages. Henry VII's policies aimed to diminish the Hanseatic dominance over English trade, particularly through Navigation Acts, which mandated that English trade be conducted on English ships, and other measures to challenge their privileges.

Relationships with France

During Henry VII's reign, England's relationship with France was marked by political tensions and trade agreements. Following Henry’s support for Breton independence in 1487, France imposed trade restrictions. However, the Treaty of Etaples in 1492 eased these restrictions, and by 1495, France eliminated all barriers to English trade in exchange for England’s neutrality during the Italian Wars, showcasing the strategic use of trade as a diplomatic tool.

Relationships with Italy

Italy was a fragmented region of powerful city-states during the Tudor period, notably dominated by Venice in trade with the Middle East. To counteract Venice's monopoly, Henry VII instituted a wool staple in Pisa in 1490, aiming to control trade routes. This included imposing tariffs on Venetian goods and solidifying direct trade with the Levant, ultimately compelling Venice to allow English merchants to participate in Eastern trade due to concerns over wool supplies.

Exploration

Exploration during the Tudor period held the promise of immense wealth and prestige but was fraught with risk and uncertainty. England, a latecomer in global exploration compared to Spain and Portugal, pursued ventures to uncover new trade routes and resources. Although Henry VII initially declined funding for Columbus’s expedition due to concerns over oceanic distances, in 1497, he sponsored John Cabot's expedition, which led to the discovery of North America. Subsequent exploratory missions, such as those by Sebastian Cabot, aimed to discover the Northwest passage, highlighting the dual motivations of merchants seeking fishing grounds and Henry’s interests in expanding wealth and territory.