AS. Miles - 1. The reasons for and impact of religious change. Flashcards
Life in England before 1529
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England in 1485 - population and landscape
The landscape was pastoral and rural. Total population was about 3 million, and 90% of whom lived in very rural communities.
Towns were small. A large town : Norwich had a population of about 12,000.
London had a population of 60,000.
Farming
Arable farming with a variety of crops was common. The large open fields were common in many areas of arable farming. The land was divided into strips and given by local land owners to tenants.
In the late 15th century there was concern about enclosure.
Enclosure
Enclosure involved putting a fence around a field so that either one crop could be produced on a larger scale or the field could be used as livestock.
An anti-enclosure act was passed in 1489, but wasn’t effective.
Cloth industry.
Accounted for nearly 80% of England’s exports. The wool and cloth industry generated the most growth.
Connections began with the Netherlands, Spain and Italy, with the Holy Roman Empire in Venice.
Most wool was made by peasants, by hand.
English society
Everyone knew their place in society. From the King, downwards, through the ranks of clergy, nobles, gentry, merchants, commoners, servants and paupers. This was known as ‘The Great Chain Of Being’.
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Nobles were few in number- just over 50 - owned large areas of land which provided power and influence in the localities. Strict and rigid laws of primogeniture meant that estates were passed down intact to the eldest son or closest male relative.
Below the nobles were the gentry, merchants, commoners and beggars.
The commoners suffered the most from enclosure.
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At the pinnacle of the social hierarchy was the monarch. He ruled under God, though later the Divine Rights of Kings had not been fully set out.
England in 1529 - position in Europe
-lots of land in France - still ruled over Calias.
-The Netherlands were important due to cloth trade.
-Spain becoming a major power.
The government of England
-Dictatorship was integral.
-Royal household treated him well in terms of hospitality.
-King depended on nobles for advice and along with senior churchmen made up the privy council.
Economy and finance
-cloth industry booming.
-Lands owned by the Crown provided the King with regular income.
Monarchy in England
-The throne was in a volatile state.
-There was a lot of dispute over power related subjects.
Tudor Wales in 1529
After 1283, the land of Wales that was under control of the King was called “The Principality”. This area, about 1/3rd of Wales, was ruled under English sovereignty.
The principality was divided into shrines which were governed by men appointed by the King.
2/3rds of Wales was still governed by the “Marcher Lords”.
Tudor Wales.
1500- estimated that about 250,000 lived in Wales.
the vast majority living under non-English terrain.
-Wales unable to produce food in relation to demand. It’s estimated that about 50% of the population suffered from malnutrition which in turn made them more susceptible to disease.
-Infant mortality was very high- 25% of babies died at birth and another 25% of babies died before their 1st birthday,
-The poor received help from 46 monastries in Wales.
The importance of the church and opposition
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Why was the Catholic church so powerful?
-It owned about 1/3rd of the land and had considerable wealth.
-The church had a hierarchy from archbishops to bishops all the way down the chain to poor parish priests who earned less than £15 a e=year.
-There were about 35,000 ordained clergy and about 10,000 monks and nuns.
-Had it’s own legal system - the Pope decided (Rome) on all matters, both religious and political.
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The church provided certainty, which was scarce in a time of short-life and disease.
Priests used paintings and statues, to explain Christian beliefs, but it is hardly surprising if beliefs focused more on nature and the fear of going to hell.
The English people in the 16th century
-The pope , in Rome, was head of the church and had supreme authority over all spiritual matters.
-There was a discernible elaborate hierarchy of churchmen.
-The clergy held a special and powerful place within the community. Access to Bible and written in Latin, meaning it was limited to priests and other.
-The unique role of priesthood was confirmed by their appearance, as they wore particular clothes and vestments.
-People devotes their life to Catholicism through 7 sacraments, wherein baptism and other isms were done.
-They should attend church regularly to secure a place in heaven.
Churches within the community
-Churches were the most common building.
- Nearly 2/3rds of English parishes were rebuilt in the 15th century.
-It was only when Henry VIII wanted a divorce, leading to what is known as the reformation that people criticized the church.
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Albeit the church was very powerful, with its very power came its great corruption. Emphasis on the incompetence of the clergy. For example, some clergy were immoral, and some were pluralists.
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Albeit the church was very powerful, with its very power came its great corruption. Emphasis on the incompetence of the clergy. For example, some clergy were immoral, and some were pluralists.
Historian interpretations
Professor A.G Dickens -
Looked at evidence from a Protestant perspective - suggested that the church was criticized due to the shortcomings in the church that were nothing new ; the Catholic church had strength and vitality and much active support, both in worship and in outwards signs such as church buildings projects.
Other historians argued that the reformation was primarily political, to grant Henry’s divorce.
The church’s political sphere
The church was also a force in National and international politics. The church offered and additional service to monarchs. It’s power over people’s minds through it’s teachings created a channel in which obedience to the will of the King could also be taught.
What was the condition of the Roman Catholic church in England in 1529?
Historians- J A Froude + J H Green.
They said that the Roman Catholic church was in poor condition by 1529. This unfortunate situation coupled with the spreading of Protestant ideas coming in from the continent, led to a strong dislike of the church and it’s clergy. This facilitated Henry’s goal and he toppled it to take it’s power and wealth.