the poor

life for the rural poor

lived in darkness, earning 4p a day and having 8 people live in one house

life for the urban poor

1/2 babies died, any crime is punishable with death, accused of witchcraft

poor law

ensured the poor were housed, clothed and fed

causes of poverty

whilst the population was increasing (by 43% in 50 years) harvests especially in the 1590s were doing worse so food prices rose

growth of enclosures

replacement of large fields with small field per person, tenant farmers often evicted as less labour intensive work

collapse of cloth trade in the 1500s

antwerp was enlgand’s main trade partner and english exports were banned from 1560 to 1580 when spain rules the netherlands

closure of monasteries

henry viii dissolved them in the 1530s when previously they provided shelter food and medical care for the poor

almshouse

for the old and ill to live and receive money food and clothing