5 - Economic Development: trade, exploration, prosperity and depression Flashcards
How did farming change in the late 15th century?
From open field to enclosure farming
What is the difference between open field and enclosure farming?
- open field divided the land into strips between villagers
- enclosure farming meant that there was one sole owner of the land
- open field ran on a rotational system
What were the advantages to enclosure?
- suitable for sheep farming, more profitable
- selective breeding could be practised
- land was owned so decisions were easier
What were the disadvantages to enclosure?
- evicted families who couldn’t prove their rights, causing vagrants
- loss of the common land for grazing and collecting firewood
- people angry that their property was taken away
What was the population at the beginning of the 15th century?
- 2.2 million
- 10% lived in towns
- no more than 20 towns had more than 3000
What was the significance of Norwich, Bristol, York and Coventry?
- populations ranging from 8,000-10,000
- wool and cloth production
What were the changes to farming introduced in the 1480s?
- moving more towards sheep farming as arable was becoming less profitable
- demand for wool in the cloth industry
What was arable farming and where was it practised?
Grain and crops, in south Wales
What was mixed farming and where was it practised?
Growing crops and raising animal livestock, in the west of England
What was pastoral farming and where was it practised?
Rearing of animals, in Wales and the East of England
To what scale did farming change under Henry VII?
partial change
- enclosed farming had been practised for centuries before Henry
- only 3% in the Midlands where it was the most common
Why were towns important in England?
- centre of trade
- exchange of ideas and goods
- guilds were formed for protection
- diverse range of skilled workers
- 700 towns in England, growing population
What were the merchant staplers?
The guild for cloth trade
What were the merchant taylors?
The guild for raw wool
What were the merchant adventurers?
The overseers of many trade types
Did cloth provide lots of jobs?
- people could work from home
- 1.3% of people
- extra income for women
- it was a fluctuating demand
What was the geographical spread of cloth?
- East Anglia, West Riding of Yorkshire and the West Country
- Lavenham in Suffolk, a small town that prospered
What was the industry’s reliance on cloth?
- 90% of english exports
- 60% increase under Henry VII
- established links to Antwerp
How important was cloth to Europe?
- great demands in European markets
- 1489, Henry banned purchase of English wool to make cloth
Was cloth in the interests of the crown?
- 1489 ban
- Henry recognised the importance
Why was cloth more important than other industries?
- 90% of exports
- wool relied on the consumption of cloth
How was Christopher Columbus successful?
- Henry had been interested in his proposal but it had been rejected by the council
- had successfully voyaged to America
- gained strong trade links for Spain
How was Christopher Columbus unsuccessful?
- Henry turned down patronage at the start of his reign
How was John Cabot successful?
- quickly got an audience with the king in 1496
- authorised to sail ‘all parts’ by Henry
- discovered Cod in Newfoundland
Where was metal being produced?
North and Central Wales and Devon and Cornwall
What were the main metals?
Tin and Lead
What were export levels?
Dominated the European markets
Was England reliant on coal and metal?
No, less than 1.3% in cloth and even less in them
