Social and intellectual change 1625-88 key dates

1650

London is the biggest city in western Europe

1520

population at 2.5 million

1680

population at 5 million

1651

commonwealth established

1625

epidemics have a lesser impact

1650

Marriage ages are lower

1650

London population at 400 000

1650s

inflation

1601

Poor relief law

1662

Poor relief / settlement act

1631

book of orders

1650

state relief at 188 000

1650

by this point the gentry class had grown by 300%

1688

merchant class at 64 000

1640

90% of lawyers in training were sons of the nobility or gentry

1643

6000 women petitioned for food and peace during civil war

1649

10 000 women petitions for the release of leveller John Lilliburne

1650

Adultery act

1653

marriage act

1647

Heads of Proposals

1647

Putney debates

1662

Royal society established