10.1 Elites and Commoners Flashcards
What occurred during Henry VIII’s reign in regards to social status
It became increasingly easier to move up the social hierachy
What happened to the size of the nobility under Henry VIII
It increased.
What was expected of nobles
To have great households and offer hospitality to their neighbours
What were noble households critical to
Maintenance of local influence and to the recruitment of royal families
e.g. The Earl of Shrewsbury raised an army of 4000 for the 1513 French invasion
What was the relationship between monarch and nobility like
The nobility became increasingly more under the crowns control
What illustrates the increased crown control over the nobility
The execution of the Duke of Buckingham in 1521 for vague charges
The execution of Thomas Fiennes who killed a neighbours servant. Reported that he was treated like a commoner
What happened to the number of gentry and JP’s under Henry VIII
They both increased
Gentry - 5000 in 1540
Knights - 1524
What enabled laymen to rise socially
The Crown’s local administration had historically been clergymen, however laymen became increasingly involved. This made more landowners as the income they got was excellent
What did the rise in inflation cause for commoners
A drop in real incomes which contributed to the ill feeling felt by many towards the Amicable Grant
What happened to the social structure
Remained unchanged. The vast majority owned few possessions
What group in society saw an increase in their social status
Merchants, traders and craftsmen
Why did merchants, traders and craftsmen see an increase in social status
Because of the economic decline, many of the great aristocratic farms had to sell land to survive - and merchants etc were in possession of large majorities of wealth.
What did the increased land market as a result of a drop in real wages cause
A gentry class which greatly profited from it.
Factors in supporting a changing society under Henry VIII
- Sale and leasing of land for survival in response to inflation created a very active land market
- Urban elite enjoyed increasing power
- Peasantry were free
- Merchants returned to parliament
- Land redistribution marked the rise of the gentry
