Exploration & Prosperity and depression

What was Henry VIIIs attitude towards exploration?

Henry VIII was uninterested in exploration and made no attempt to build on the early achievements of Cabot and the Bristol merchants at the end of the 15th century

Who was Robert Thorne?

Robert Thorne, a Bristol trader

What did Thorne do?

Thorne continued his involvement in an Iceland and Newfoundland fishery

How was Thorne different to other merchants?

Other merchants that showed an interest in further exploration found themselves unable to win royal support for any venture

Who was sebastian Cabot?

Sebastian Cabot. son of John Cabot , Venetian-born explorer who served the English and Spanish crowns at various times during the Tudor period

What was Sebastian Cabots relationship with England like?

• Sebastian Cabot remained in Spain for most of Henry VIII’s reign apart from two short visits to England, and it was only after Edward VI took the throne that he returned

• Interestingly, however, he was assisted in his mapmaking activities by Robert Thorne’s son who bore the same name as his father

Prosperity and depression

What did John Guy argue?

John Guy has argued that 'England was economically healthier, more expansive and more optimistic under the Tudors than at any time since the Roman occupation

How could John Guys points be supported? (Population)

Population grew significantly starting from about 1525 with, allowing for fluctuations, a decline in the rate of mortality

How could John Guys points be supported? (Agriculture)

1520s - agricultural prices rose significantly, thus increasing farming incomes, which was sometimes enhanced by the practice of engrossing

How could John Guys points be supported? (Coinage)

Debasement of the coinage created a short-term artificial boom in 1544 to 1546, but at a long-term cost to living standards

What were the opposing points to John Guys argument? (Food and Harvest)

On the other hand:

• Bad harvests (E.g - 1520-21 and 1527-29) led to temporary but significant increases in food prices

• Food prices almost doubled across Henry VIII's reign - John Guy suggested that this caused big problems for urban workers

What were the opposing points to John Guys argument? (Real Wages)

• Real wages, after a period of stability, began to decline for many - this worsened at the end of Henry VIII's reign when the effects of debasement were particularly evident

• Assessment for subsidies indicated considerable urban poverty

What were the findings of the assesment?

Over half the population of Coventry were recorded as having no personal wealth. The same was true for a third of the population of Yarmouth

What were the opposing points to John Guys argument? (unemployment)

There is evidence of growing unemployment amongst rural labourers, some of whom found work in rural industries such as weaving and mining or moved to towns and cities

What were the number of migants caused by unemployment?

There were over 5000 migrants a year adding to

the population of London

What was the ripplr effect of unemployment?

Some people seem to have been made homeless on account of engrossing, though its extent and effects are difficult to determine and legislation regarding the problem was ineffective.

Impact of enclosure

When did the act of enclosing begin?

Enclosure of common fields had existed in the fifteenth century, but had had relatively little impact

What was the firt issue that emerged from enclosing?

However it seemed to create a moral problem in that it led to the poor being forced to leave their homes

What was done to combat issues due to enclosing?

Muddled legislation was passed against enclosure in 1489 and 1515, but there was no real grasp of its extent or the scale of the problem

What prominent figure highlighted effects of enclosure and how and when?

Its harmful social effects had been highlighted in Thomas More's Utopia, published in 1516

How did Wolsey respond to this book?

In response, Wolsey launched an enclosure commission in 1517 to ascertain the scale of the problem

How successful were Wolseys measures?

Proceedings were launched successfully against no fewer than 188 defendants who were found to have enclosed illegally

Where reigon was enclosing affecting the most?

Enclosure at this time was, (1517) however, a largely regional practice, most commonly found in east Midlands villages

When was the bulk of negative effects from enclosing seen?

In any case, the bulk of the damage caused by enclosure and conversion of land from tillage to pasture had taken place before 1485

Despite past legislation how was futher legislative action seen and what was its effectiveness?

That did not prevent further legislation in 1534 which attempted to limit sheep ownership and engrossing — with predictably limited results

Population

What was the main underlying cause of economic distress

The main underlying cause of economic distress was the increase in population

What domino effect did the distress have?

• This put a considerable strain on the supply of food which made it difficult at times to meet the rising demand

• This problem was made worse by the fact that wages were at best stagnating, with a plentiful supply of cheap labour

Who benefited form the population issue and how?

The beneficiaries of population increase were wealthier farmers and landowners

• Agricultural prices, and therefore income from farming, rose

• There was a growing class of substantial farmers who were able or fortunate enough to respond effectively to changing market conditions and who enjoyed much better material conditions as a result

How did John Guy percieve the populaton issue?

Thus, as John Guy has argued, ‘agricultural improvement promoted economic growth at the cost of peasant distress; increased production generated prosperity for landlords and impoverishment for wage earners

What was the overall effect on society?

Society became more polarised, which undermined traditional ideals of good lordship and social responsibility

• Consequently, ‘the upper strata of society became richer, but the poor became poorer

How did the rich view the polarisation?

The rich assumed that the latter were poor on account of their own idleness, which would lead in the long run to much sterner measures taken against vagrancy and begging.