Topic 4 Economy, trade and empire 1625-88

TO FINISH

enclosure

increased after 1660 though some areas like Oxfordshire still prospered without enclosure

water meadows

ground is always kept wet by using irrigation- used for hay and animal grazing

specialised farming

improved economic conditions for farmers- prevented poor harvests

1662 Settlement Act- employment implications

landowners could hire people from other parishes just for the harvest without having to contribute to poor rates

increased number of markets

meant better infrastructure

use of horses on farms

1600- 300,000

1700- 630,000

1663 Turnpike Act

created new toll roads

1657

stage coaches developed- used for communication

London cloth exports

1660- £1.5 million

92% of exports from London in 1640

protestant immigration- impact on cloth trade

dutch immigrants were able to make light draperies so didn’t need to be sold on

reasons for London’s economy growth

• banking and insurance industries based there- more employment and capital for merchants and businesses

• centre of legal system

• improved infrastructure and the Thames

• skilled and educated workers would move to London

  • high number of markets

enclosure impact on economy

Mixed social conditions- Sherringdon and Buckinghamshire, people enclosing and lost to larger enclosures due to debt

farming techniques

better educated yeomen and husbandmen- understood about nutrition of crops- crop rotation

farming techniques impact on economy

increases productivity of farms

9 million acres by 1700 and new crop types meant food could be grown for longer periods throughout the year

water meadows impact

allowed for grazing

resisted frost

allowed for selective breeding

development of specialised farming and growth of employment

north developed for livestock, south- arable

1 million labourers by 1688 from 364,000 families

impact of specialised farming and growth of employment

farmers can concentrate on farming their lands strength and therefore increase yield

employment of the poor on large farms became a more stable form of employment

capital investment in agriculture

post 1650- large farms could be invested in due to population growth slowing and deflation of the currency

capital investment in agriculture impact on economy

yield increases as Midlands had 53% of agricultural land in large farms compared to 32% 100 years before

development of national markets

transport increased to facilitate demands for food. Roads took off after 1650 (Turnpike/stage coaches)

development of national markets impact on economy

better organised markets for selling goods because of transport but mixed as it did not devlop in Ireland/Scotland.

reduced living standards in rest of south east

when was first road atlas published allowing for roads to become more easily navigable?

1675

consequence for huge demand for food in London for small towns elsewhere?

drained resources available for small towns

what is capital investment?

investment by higher gentry and aristocracy to bring modernisation

literacy in yeomen and husbandmen

increased after 1600 meant they could write books about new techniques

navigation acts aims

weaken Dutch monopoly

when was coffee house opened

1688 by Edward Lloyd

two companies set up for Fire insurance

1681- Fire Office

1683- Friendly Society

Jamestown Virginia

lucrative tobacco trade, 1607

Carribbean

Spanish sea power declined in 1620s- Britain occupied Barbados and Antigua- sugar

1651 Navigation Act

goods imported to England and English territories must be carried in English ships, crews must be half english

significance of Navigation Acts

represented victory of national trading interests over interests of private companies

1660 Navigation Act

confirmed earlier legislation

banned exports from being carried in foreign ships

when does England secure control of Jamaica?

1660

First Anglo Dutch war

1652-54