economic and social developments Flashcards
What were the key features of the 12th century economy
- Overwhemingly agricultural society (90% farmers) with wealth tied to land
- Increasing contact with continent, export of wool and metals resulting in the import of finished and luxury goods
- Acquisition of Gascony stimulated trade in the south-west of England and Flanders were dependent on English Wool
What was a villein
term to denote the largest proportion of peasant, they were legally tied to the Lord of the Manor and had obligation to provide goods
What was merchet
a sum paid by the villein upon the marriage of a daughter
What was heriot
a tax payable upon the death of a villein from remaining possessions
What were bordards and cottars
below the rank of villein in the village hierarchy, they often held just enough land to support a family and would have to often supplement their income through working the Lords land
What were slaves
bottom of heirachy and had no land of their own allocated but were obliged to work the Lords land
What were freemen
not as bound, they paid rent to the Lord of the Manor and had fewer obligations e.g. could get married without permission and could not be moved estate against their will
How did the Cistercian order innovate the rural economy
developed huge estates in areas such as the West Riding of Yorkshire and the Lake District for the wool industry
How much tin was produced by the 1190’s compared to tthe early 1160s
Devon and Cornwall were producing 6 times as much tin per year by the 1190s as they had in the early 1160s
What did the increasing number of markets,fairs and towns encourage
encouraging manufacture and the sale of surplus agricultural yields- many landowners were keen to raise income from their own domains from sales of grain or fleeces rather than claim rental incomes.
How did recoinages in 1158 and 1180 affect the economy
- Regular recoinages in 1158 and 1180 ensured the maintenance in the value of cash
- General increase in the avaliability of cash which supported commerce as cash balancres rather than welath tied up in Land, made transactions easier
How were Jews useful to the economy
- They were dealers in plate and bullion especially able to convert the foreign coinage into English money from the export of wool
- strong business partnership across England and the continent
- Able to lend money
Who was Aaron of Lincoln
the most successful moneylender, upon his death in 1186 he was owed £18,466- requiring a separate exchequer just for him
What agarian development increased the ambition of manufacturers and merchants
the use of horse over oxen to carry loads speeded up transport
What were markets
- Took place on specific days
- key function was the trade in corn and other local produce
How many international fairs were there by the start of the 13th Century
By start of 13th Century there 6 international fairs
What are some examples of local produce that developed a national reputation
- Cod of Grimsby
-
scarlet of Lincoln
- Marble of Corfe and Iron of Gloucester
As a result of England’s successful wool trade, how much sheep did it have by the 13th century
had 10 million sheep in the 13th century
How many new boroughs were created as a result of the establishment of regular market places between 1154-1250
encouraged the development of boroughs with 88 new boroughs
What were ‘chartered boroughs’ and how many did Henry II grant in his reign
created by king so towns had a greater control over their own affairs; granted nearly 50 municipal charters in his reign
What did Charters do
- freed it from feudal control along with exemption from some tolls and requirement to attend any court but the borough court
- could establish its own tax farm and pay directly to the exchequer
What made London on a different economic scale
- Access to sea and a river navigable another 80 miles inland
- surrounded by low hills with ease of access to the continent it was easily defensible and accessible
By the 12th Century, London was established as the seat of ___________, ___ and the ______
By the 12th Century, London was established as the seat of government, law and the exchequer
What did London’s population grow from 25,000 in 1086 to by 1200
Londons population had grown from 25,000 in 1086 to about 40,000 in 1200
What was a hinterland and how big was London’s
The conurbation of market towns near London
It was about 40 miles large
What determined wealth in England
Land determined the wealth and status of a peasants
What was a vigrate
a substantial peasant holdings
Who did the common law exclude
The common law excluded villeins (who were mostly peasants), it only protected freehold and the law of the freemen
How were the unfree treated
unfree could be treated like cattle:
- tied to the land,
- sold with the land
- if they escaped; placed in chains
How did Archbishop Lanfranc prevent the growth of slaves
Irish pirates raided the coast of North deacon and carried off anyone they could find to sell into slavery, this was condemned by contemporaries and finally stopped by Archbishop Lanfranc
How did slaves disappear from society and what were they known as now
slave population in England had been declining before 1066 after which slaves gained their freedom by the process of ‘manumission’
- By 1120 slaves had disappeared from legal language but known rather as ox-man or a household servant
- the lord could still sell the unfree
What was a women’s role in English medieval society
- Women’s role was domestic; having children, running the house and cooking
- Giving birth
What was a women’s position in law
- In law, women were absent, they were the property of either her husband or father
- A women was only allowed to bring 2 criminal charges on her own behalf; murder of husband and rape
How did education grow under Henry II
- By 1189 there were many more schools; so called ‘song’ schools often provided a basic level of literacy whereas ‘grammar’ schools granted students a more thorough grounding in subjects essential to enter a career in the Church
- In 1167 Henry II had banned English students from attending the University of Paris and this had spurred the growth of the University of Oxford
