Henry VII: culture, society, economy and exploration

Question 1

how did nobles change

Answer 1

• significantly reduced patronage e.g. only 3 earls and 1 duke to ensure support of nobles

Question 2

in what 5 ways did Henry engage in the humanist tradition?

Answer 2

• built a new palace at Richmond
• commissioned the HVII chapel at Westminster
• Italian scholars taught at Oxford and Cambridge like Grocyn and Linacre
• over 100 schools were endowed in the C15 many influenced by humanism including the creation of St Pauls school led by John Colet a famous humanist
• Henry’s children received a humanist education

Question 3

in what 5 ways was Henry a patron of the arts?

Answer 3

• Polydore Vergil was commissioned to write a history of England
• John Skelton was a poet employed to write positively about Henry
• in 1499 Erasmus visited England and delivered a famous lecture about St Paul and had a huge influence over English scholars
• in 1504 he created the post of the ‘kings printer’ leading to an increase in printing and more books published but it was not used so much and academics was still dominated by a small group of intellectuals

Question 4

what five economic changes were there under Henry VII

Answer 4

1. 1485-6 navigation act to break the monopoly of the Hanseatic League
2. 1489 anti-closure law
3. Act of 1489 to limit the export of wool so that finishing took place in England more
4. 1496 Intercursus Magnus allowed English merchants to trade with Burgundy except Flanders
5. by 1509 english merchants were shipping half the cloth in Europe as well as trading with the wealthiest states like Venice

Question 5

what overseas exploration was under Henry VII?

Answer 5

Supported the voyages of John Cabot (who reached Newfoundland in 1497)

Question 6

overall for culture under HVII?

Answer 6

the speed of cultural change was slow, humanism had made in-roads but it would not have a big impact on culture until later in the Tudor period