Economic development, trade, exploration, prosperity and depression Flashcards
How big was the population?
2.2 million
What did most of England’s population make a living out of?
Agriculture
Only 10% lived in towns or cities
How many towns had more than 3000 people?
How many people did London have?
While London contained more than 50,000, only 20 towns contained 3000 or more people (including Bristol and York)
Why was there a move towards sheep farming in agriculture?
Population began to increase In the 1480’s and 1490’s(income from land was in recovery after black-death)
There was an increase in demand for wool as trade developed.
There was a move towards sheep farming at the expense of arable (cereal crops)
Where was the development most acute?
In the ‘low-land zone’ to the south and east of the imaginary line
What had peasant farmers traditionally practiced?
Open-field husbandry - shared land.
The growth of sheep farming could mean the loss of common land and changes to the strip system (enclosure - common in the 16th century).
Was there much agricultural change?
Very little agricultural change in late 15th and early 16th century
At the end of the 15th century what did cloth amount for?
90% of English exports - estimated there was a 60% increase in the volume of clothe exports under Henry
How were farm labourers able to supplement their income?
By spinning, weaving, fulling and dyeing
Where was the finished cloth increasingly exported from and to?
From London (through the merchant adventurers) to the commercial centre of Antwerp from where it was sent all over Europe
What did other industries include?
Mining (tin, lead, coal and iron) - required capital investment but fairly small scale Metal working Leather work Ship building Papermaking Brewing
Why was Henry keen to develop English trade?
In order to boost wealth through custom duties and taxes as well as to enhance his own position by securing positive relationships with foreign powers
What were the Navigation Acts of 1485 and 1489?
Ruled that only English ships could carry certain products to and from English ports - designed to boost the English shipbuilding industry and challenge the Hanseatic league which dominated trade in the Baltic
Limited in success as foreign vessels continued to transport a substantial proportion of English exports
Who did Henry support to boost trade?
Merchant adventurers - an English company who controlled cloth trade
When was the intercursus magnus?
Signed 1496
confirmed 1499
What was the Intercursus magnus?
Between Henry and Philip IV - ended Henry’s 1493 embargo on trade with the Netherlands
What did the Intercursus Magnus state?
English merchants could export to any part of Burgundy except the Flanders
How successful were Henry’s attempts to stimulate trade?
Who effected this?
No major breakthrough in Mediterranean trade.
Hanseatic league was largely successful in limiting the development of English trading interests in the Baltic
Who were English sailors much slower than to make new discoveries?
15th century Spanish or Portuguese seamen
What happened with exploration in 1497?
John Cabot with authorisation from Henry to find unknown parts of the world.
He found what became known as Newfoundland.
He reported the existence of extensive fishing grounds.
Who was William Weston and what did he do?
A Bristol merchant - led an expedition to the new world and may have landed there in 1499 or 1500
Who else received sponsorship from Henry?
What did he unsuccessfully lead?
John Cabot’s son - Sebastian who then led an unsuccessful attempt to find the ‘north-west passage’ to Asia in 1508
What happened to exploration in Henry VIII’s reign?
He had little interest in supporting exploration so the new fishing grounds were left to the seamen from Spain and Portugal
On the whole what was the late 15th century in terms of stability?
A time of relative economic stability (temporary rise in 1480’s)with signs of growing prosperity.
