HH1 - Security and Government

What was the social hierarchy of the countryside in 1509?

Nobility, gentry, yeomen, tenant farmers, landless or labouring poor, vagrants and homeless.

What was the social hierarchy of towns in 1509?

Merchants, professionals, business owners, skilled craftsmen, unskilled workers and unemployed.

What was the significance of the wool trade in England in 1509?

Source of wealth for gentry and nobility who owned large flocks of sheep. Wool was exported in particular to the Netherlands, increased wealth of merchants in port cities such as London and Bristol. Exports increased wealth of king and crown as they levied a tax on each sack of wool exported. Landowners enclosed land to graze their flocks, reducing common land available for ordinary people.

What was the significance of the cloth trade in England in 1509?

Most cloth was woven in Yorkshire, south west and south east of England, the industry brought wealth to those areas particular areas that could also benefit from closeness to London Markets. Cloth trade run by merchants who organised themselves into guilds, this enabled them to keep control over quality of fabrics and keep prices high. Cloth exported to Europe, especially to Netherlands and Belgium, and England became the major European cloth producer, by 1540, up to 83% of cloth in Europe came from England.

What was the structure of the government in 1509?

King, Privy Chamber (King’s closest friends), Royal Household (nobles and servants who advised King), Royal Council (nobles and churchmen who helped govern), Court (nobles who entertained and advised King), Parliament (passed laws proposed by King), Justices of the Peace (nobility who kept law and order in different areas of the country).

What was the importance of London in England in 1509?

England’s biggest city city with 60,000 people, other large towns included Norwich, Exeter, York and Coventry. London was a growing centre of trade especially weaving and wool trade, it was also where the King and Royal Court were frequently based, merchants from London traded with Europe including Netherlands, Spain and Russia.