History Migration to Britain 1250 - Present (Late Medieval)

Late Medieval Britain 1250-1500

Who were the powerful leaders in the medieval period

The King with support from Nobility (landowners, churchmen) Nobility sat in parliment and advised King.

What were the majority of the population called?

Peasants (Farmers) rented land from nobility. Nobles had power over land

What period of time was late Medieval period?

c.1250-c.1500

What influence did the King have over immigrants?

The King decided, who and where they could live, how much tax they paid. This caused conflict as it depended on attitudes and beliefs of current king.

What religion did most people follow in late medieval England?

Catholic

The Catholic church was VERY powerful. What did they expect from everyone?

Regular church attendance and a tenth of what they earned to be paid to the church

What was the Catholic churches special tax called?

Tithe

How did the church influence attitudes towards migrants?

Later Middle Ages churchmen could read and write, but the majority of oridinary people were illiterate so relied on churchmen for their knowledge about the world / migrants.

What was an important aspect of medieval Christianity that also brought in migrants from Europe?

Pilgrimage. Sites of saints could give forgiveness, cure disease.

Where did the most of the English Economy come from?

England relied on farming rural countryside. There were a few towns with less than 2000 inhabitants.

What improvements were made to farming during late medieval period?

Windmills, increased sheep farming helped the English wool trade

How did the improvements in farming influence migration?

People, including Europeans went to the towns to buy and sell goods.

When did the Jewish people first come to England?

With William I from about 1070

Why were the Jewish people treated well by William I and his sons William II and Henry I ?

They were good for the economy as they set up trade links with the Jews in Normandy.

The Jews were wards of the king. What did this mean?

They were under his direct protection and authority.

How did the king benefit from the Jews being 'wards' of the king?

His authority as 'Protector of the Jews' gave him control over the Jews so he could impose special taxes.

What privilages were Jewish migrants given by the king?

1. They could 'Hold land' (lease) from the King and had a right to physical protection.

2. They could act as moneylenders and were allowed to charge everyone (not just Jews) interest. Christians weren't allowed to charge interest when lending money.

Name two reasons why the king and nobles find the Jews moneylending business helpful?

1. They borrowed the money to fund wars, building projects.

2. By the 12thC kings realised the growing prosperity could also be a source of income and imposed tax on the Jews.

Give an example of a king who benefitted from taxing the Jews moneylending business and what did he use the money for?

Richard I -for the third crusade war between Muslims and Chrisitans over control of the Holy Land (area around Jerusalem)

Resentment for Jewish people grew in the 12th C can you give 4 examples of why this was?

1. Some people resented the 'special position' of the Jews.

2. Jealous of the Jews increasing wealth. Some owed debts to them and felt Jews had become rich at their expense.

3. The crusades started in 1090s and went on for centuries. People becamse less tolerant of non-Christians and persecuted the Jews

4. In 12th C Jewish people were accused of killing Christian children for religious rituals.

In the 12th century Jewish people were accused of killing Christian children as part of a religious ritual. What was this called?

Blood libel

In what year were the Jewish people blamed for a Christian child's death, that led to Jewish people being killed?

1255

Richard I banned Jews (violently sending out those that did!) from his coronation in 1189. This added fuel to a rumour! What was this rumour what were the consequences?

That Richard I wanted to kill all non-Chrisitans around England. A series of massacres. And again in the 13thC.

What restrictions did Henry III put on Jewish people?

In 1253 Henry III banned Jews and Christians from mixing. Jews were only allowed to live where they already lived.

In what years were the Jewish people accused of coin clipping? (cutting pieces of gold and silver coins) and what punishment was given?

1278 and 1279. The head of every Jewish household was arrested and executed.

What restrictions in 1290 did Edward I put on all Jewish households?

He expelled all Jewish people from England. Took their property and foced them to leave or be killed.

Late medieval period was a time of steady migration from parts of Europe to England. What were two of the main reasons?

Religion and Economic. This meant there was a wide variety of people living in migrant communities with different skills.

Many migrants came for religious reasons and stayed after pilgrimage. Why did Canterbury became a site of pilgrimage?

Archbisop of Canterbury Thomas Becket was murdered in the cathedral in 1170.

Why did people come to England for work?

1. England's industries were quite backward compared to other European countries so business men could start up an industry and make more money.

2. After the Black Death in 1348 England needed more workers.

Name three reasons why the Flemish migrants had a major impact on late medieval England?

1. They were skilled weavers, cloth makers and helped grow the English woold trade.

2. They helped build cathedrals and castles.

3. Dutch and German brewers introduce beer into England, which became a major trade.

What response did Flemish migranats recieve from English people and why?

Varied by quite hostile.

Some inegrated into English society.

Many thought the Flemish immigrants were abusing their privilages (kings protection, live and trade anywhere and didn't pay local tax) as foreign traders.

Flemish weavers were killed in Norwich riot 1312. Many Flemings were killed in the 1381 Rebellion.

What was the 'Ancient Custom'?

A royal tax all merchants paid. From 1303 Foreign merchants paid a higher tax than English merchants.

From 1303 Foreign merchants paid a higher tax than English merchants. Why is this?

Kings found opposition if they raised English people's tax too much as it made them angry. It was easier to put a higher tax on foreign merchants.

What did the foreign merchants get in return for paying the higher 'Ancient Custom' tax of 1303?

Kings protection and special rights (freedom to trade where they wanted and they didn't need to pay local tax) to encourage them to stay and trade.

Why did the foreign merchants kings protection and special rights upset the English people?

1. They didn't have to pay local taxes as they paid the higher 'Ancient custom' rate. This was good for the king, but not for the local communities.

2. In 1335 foreign merchants were allowed to live and trade anywhere. The competition caused tension between them and the English traders. In London, city officials tried to limit the number of foreign traders but the king confirmed the foreign traders could trade freely. In 15th C attitude to foreign merchants grow more negative. Restrictions were put in place to say that foreign merchants had to live with an English host who could monitor them.

How did the goverment respond to migrants in late medieval period?

They encouraged migration to England, however they were susicious of foreigners from enemy countries. This pattern continued right up second world war when migrants from countries such as Germany were placed in intermment (prison) of war camps

Foreigners often suffered when England was in conflict with a place where they were from. Who was ordered to leave England even though they bought a licence in 1390's?

The Irish