Chp2 English Society in the Seventeenth Century Flashcards
What was England like by the time Elizabeth 1 died?
England was becoming a rich and powerful nation by 1603
What happened as a result of the defeat of the Spanish Armarda?
British ships could sail anywhere in the world
what happened b/c British ships were free to sail anywhere?
Britain started to travel more and colonize new lands
What were some places they made colonies?
North America, South Africa, India
How did colonies help Britain?
Colonies helped by increasing trade.
What happened to the population during the 17C?
It grew a great deal
What was a result of population increase in the 17 C?
more business, agriculture, and entreprenuers
What are enrepreneurs?
Merchants, manufacutrers, landholders who became wealthy
Who seemed to benefit the most from this population growth and world expansion?
Wealthy people expected to benefit as Britain became a world power
How did society change in the 17C?
Society became more stratified, with deep differences between rich and poor
Who were the upper classes?
King, king’s advisors, nobles, high church officials like bishops
Who were the middle classes?
merchants, manufacuters, landowners, professionals, and military officers
Who were the lower classes?
ordinary workers
What did the middle class aspire to become?
upper class
Where did most people live in the 17C?
countryside, but more people were moving into towns
How did the upper class and prosperous middle class live?
Nice houses, furnished with items from around the world
How did skilled trades people live?
they could earn a decent living and had a comfortablel lifestyle
What did skilled trades people belong to?
guilds
what were guilds?
organizations that looked after their members
What was the life of an agricultural worker like?
long hours, little pay, small cramped homes, whole families in one or two rooms
What was poverty like in the 17C?
widows, unemployed, and orphans had no income, roamed around with crime the only way to earn a living
How did the diet between rich and poor differ?
Rich – lots of stongly flavoured meat; poor- bread and beer, sometimes meat or cheese
How was food kept fresh?
there were few ways to preserve food, so it was usually cooked.
What utensils did people own?
knives and spoons, forks were just being invented
