2. Lifestyles Of The Rich And Poor

Question 1

Who did the gentry and yeoman classes aim to copy

Answer 1

The lifestyles of the nobility, just not on as grand of a scale.

Question 2

What did the gentry do to get a regular income

Answer 2

Rent out large areas of land to tenant farmers

Question 3

What clothes did the gentry wear?

Answer 3

Fashion was taken seriously. They copied the rich though not with expensive gold and silver threads.

Question 4

How were the gentry educated?

Answer 4

Sons went to grammar schools to learn Greek and Latin.
Young men learn to become the perfect gentleman. 11 hour school day, hunting, fencing, dancing and good table manners.
Some 15/16 year olds went to Oxford or Cambridge to study maths,music,theology, geometry and astronomy. Others went to the inns at court in London to study law.

Question 5

What were the gentrys homes like

Answer 5

At least 5 rooms, including servant quarters. Medieval home ceilings lowered to create an upstairs. Windows widened and glass inserted.

Question 6

Why did landowners remodel their homes, what era was this? What fuelled it?

Answer 6

To promote their wealth. This was the great rebuilding era. Fuelled by Elizabeth’s royal progresses.

Question 7

Examples of Elizabethan manor houses

Answer 7

Hardwick hall, longleat house.

Question 8

How were new buildings designed? what did they celebrate-how so?

Answer 8

Designed to show a clear divide between the owner and servant.
Celebrated symmetry and built in shape of E or H. Windows were also symmetrical from the front of the house.

Question 9

What was a new feature of the homes of the rich?

Answer 9

Long galleries. They spanned the entire length of the house, framed by windows and/or fireplaces and portraits of the family.
It’s main function was entertainment: music, dancing, exercise, and playing games

Question 10

What did fashionable noblemen wear?

Answer 10

Doublet(shirt), ruff, jerkin, breeches, leather shoes and stockings.
Outfits were completed with jewellery and a satin and velvet cloak and hat.

Question 11

What did fashionable noble ladies wear?

Answer 11

A petticoat(farthingale), a gown, stockings and ruff. Wide sleeves, bracelets, brooches and strings of pearls.

Question 12

What did young rich mean learn

Answer 12

Tutored at home in French, Latin and Greek. Social etiquette was important as was learning hawking, fencing and dancing.

Question 13

What did young rich ladies learn

Answer 13

How to supervise the daily running of the household.

Question 14

What were the poors homes like?

Answer 14

Typical cottage, had one room and often family shared with animals.
Earth floor, thatched roof, no glass windows.
They had few possessions and furniture, often a table and bench.

Question 15

What was a working day like for the poor?

Answer 15

Long 12 hour day with break and ale for lunch. Main meal at 6pm of vegetable stew. Meat was too expensive.

Question 16

What was fashion like for the poor?

Answer 16

Wore basic leather shoes, woolen stockings, jacket, waistcoat, leather breeches and felt hat. Most only had one outfit

Question 17

What education did the poor have?

Answer 17

Little to none. Some were lucky to attend parish school to learn to read and write.

Question 18

What did the poor do for leisure?

Answer 18

Gambling, playing cards, visiting the local inn or tavern, watching a strolling band or fishing.

Question 19

Who were vagrants/sturdy beggars. +Examples

Answer 19

Wandering poor called ‘sturdy beggars’ who spread disease across towns.
Hooker, summered, counterfeit crank, Abraham man.

Question 20

What were some causes of poverty?

Answer 20

Rising population,
Inflation,
Rack renting- people couldn’t afford rising rent prices,
Bad harvests- farmers couldn’t make enough money so they had to move to the cities which were already overpopulated.

Question 21

Who were the deserving and undeserving poor

Answer 21

Deserving- those who are in need and unable to work because they are too old, disabled or sick.

Undeserving- those who were lazy and didn’t want to work.

Question 22

When was the Vagabonds Act and what did it do?

Answer 22

1572, JPs keep a register of the poor and enforce local poor rates

Question 23

When was the Act for Relief of the Poor and what was it?

Answer 23

1601- work found for able bodied and children learn a trade

Question 24

When was the Statue of Artificers and what did it do?

Answer 24

1563, compulsory 7 year apprenticeship for boys