Elizabethan era Family life Flashcards
what did the gentry have in their houses
New country houses
sometimes had 50+ rooms
glazed windows
finely decorated chimneys
what food and drink would the Gentry have
had a varied diet with exotic meals such as swan, pheasant, salmon, sweets, marzipan and expensive wine
how did the gentry get there money
renting out their land
what did the middling sort have in their houses
ten rooms
2 floors
had windows and chimneys but less decorated than the gentry
what did the middling sort have to eat
had a good diet of meat, fruit and bread and drank beer. couldn’t afford the luxuries enjoyed by the gentry
how did the middling sort make their money
they were merchants, small business owners or independent farmers
what were the homes of the labouring poor like
lived in 1 room houses
no chimney
no glazed windows
what was the labouring poor’s diet like
they had a staple diet of bread but relied on a good harvest
what did the labouring poor do to make money
travelled around looking for seasonal work on farms
who chose the gentry’s partners
their parents
why did the gentry get married straight after falling pregnant
they couldnt have sex outside of marriage
what age did the gentry kids go to school
aged 7 but only the boys could go
what age did the poor kids move to work as servants
12 or 13
did Elizabethans have a strong relationship with extended family
no
when was there a rise in poverty
at the end of Elizabeth’s reign
in 1580s what percent of the population lived in poverty
30%
what were vagrants and vagabonds
unemployed people who roamed from town to town looking for work
why were the middling and gentry worried about vagrancy
the vagrants might commit crime
the vagrants would spread the plague
poverty increased because of the population increase because
during Elizabeth reign, the population rose from 2.4 million to 4.1 million
poverty increased because of the inflation because
increased demand led to prices increasing. the price of wheat increased by 250%
poverty increased because of the failed harvests because
the harvest failed in 1595, 1596 and in 1597
poverty increased because of the sheep farming because
English cloth was fashionable so sheep farming because it became very profitable
who did Elizabeth blame first for poverty
vagrants
when was the first poor law
1603
what were the two categories of poor in the poor law
the deserving poor
the undeserving poor
who were the deserving poor
people who wanted to work but couldn’t EG- elderly or disabled people
who were the undeserving poor
people who could work but didn’t EG- criminals
how were the deserving poor treat
with compassion
what did the deserving poor get
poor relief (benefits)
materials for work
apprenticeships for young people
what did the undeserving poor get
deterrents
whippings
hard labour
