1. The development of national markets

Question 1

What did the gradual growth of population result in?

Answer 1

• An increased demand for food

Question 2

Traditional markets in the 17th century

Answer 2

Traditional markets had been established by charter and regulated by the govt were no longer fit for purpose.

Question 3

Demand for food in London.

Answer 3

Nowhere was demand for food more evident than in London:
- Shipments of grain brought to the City via the Thames - increased from 500,000 quarters in 1605 to 1,150,000 in 1661

• Demands of London and other towns necessitated better organisation of the markets - required improved roads and infrastructure - and specialists merchants who would source stock to be taken to market

Question 4

Market gardens

Answer 4

• Began to develop in the immediate vicinity of London - in places such as Fulham and Whitechapel - in order to provide fresh food for the London market

Question 5

How did the London market thrive, partly?

Answer 5

• Because of the abundance of agricultural land to the west, as far as Oxfordshire, that was easily linked to the City via the Thames

Question 6

Improvements in transport infrastructure?

Answer 6

• Road system didn’t develop considerably until the second half of the century - primarily as a result of increased demand for goods rather than in order to create new markets

Question 7

First Turnpike Act

Answer 7

• 1663 - allowed for creation of brand new toll roads opened by merchants and businessmen
• The toll paid by travellers on these roads helped to pay for their upkeep - were invaluable in linking major market towns

Question 8

Development of the stage coach

Answer 8

• Important for communication
• First coaches from London to Bristol and Bath appeared in 1657
• First road atlas ever published - produced by John Ogilby in 1675
• 300-page book - weighed over 7 kg - covered all of England and Wales - mapped more than 7,500 miles of road
• Well regarded for its accuracy - became essential reading for merchants by the end of the century

Question 9

Water transport

Answer 9

• Crucial if markets were to develop and, although travel along the east and west coasts of Britain was relatively straightforward, at the start of the 17th century many rivers weren’t navigable for their entire length
• Dredging and widening of rivers - began in Tudor times - by the end of the 17th century, the Severn, Ouse and Thames used to transport manufactured goods and agricultural produce

Question 10

Coal

Answer 10

• Transported from Newcastle to London via the east coast

- Charles I ensured that the Royal Navy was able to protect ships following this route

Question 11

Overall significance of national markets in 17th century

Answer 11

• Although they existed - didn’t dominate the economy until late 18th and early 19th centuries
• Large proportion of farmers still supplied small local markets
• A national market didn’t develop as clearly in Scotland and Ireland - inadequate transport + Westminster govt reluctant for heavy investment in agriculture (Ireland viewed as colonial possession w/ few towns large enough to create a market system + difficult to provide effective communications in the Highlands)

Question 12

Lowland Scotland

Answer 12

• Fertile soil - exploited effectively - new agricultural techniques there enabled farmers to trade in markets in Edinburgh, Newcastle and Carlisle

Question 13

Was the dominance of the London market beneficial to the economy as a whole?

Answer 13

Not entirely - the huge demand for food there drained resources of other communities in the South East

• Reduced standard of living in those areas
• Prices of basic agricultural commodities in 1650 6x higher than 1500
• Supply of barley for brewing - London brewers regularly outbid those from other towns for the purchase of barley from the Home Counties - effectively destroyed brewing industry in surrounding small towns

Question 14

The development of national markets wouldn’t have been possible without…

Answer 14

improved trading conditions and infrastructure

Question 15

Summary: importance of new agricultural techniques

Answer 15

• Meant more food was produced - in turn meant that London and other large towns able to expand
• Improved transport to and from London - although relatively late in the century - as well as growth of banking and overseas trade - enabled standard of living of most people to improve