Section B Urbanisation Flashcards
Thesis
Towns and cities saw a significant change in the period for a number of reasons, however, these developments were usually a result of, rather than reason for, other areas of developments.
Themes
population grown/migration, agricultural development, economic development, growth of merchants and professional classes.
number of English and Welsh living in cities by 1500, 1600 & 1700
In 1500, just over 3% of English and Welsh people lived in cities of over 10,000 or more.
By 1600, this figure had risen to almost 6%; by 1700 it was over 13%.
By the end of the 17th Century, London was the largest city in Europe.
Norwich, Bristol, York & Newcastle population 1500 & 1625
Norwich: 10,000 & 30,000
Bristol: 9,500 & 20,000
York: 10,000 & 12,000
Newcastle: 10,000 & 12,000
Reason for the development of cities
Cities developed as a result of trade (both domestic and national). For example, Bristol was an important ‘trading hub’ with America, and Norwich was important for the developing cloth trade.
Important coal mining towns
Newcastle and York were important towns for mining coal. When the Scots invaded in 1640 and held Newcastle, there was a massive coal shortage in London.
Cause of new style of relationship between the urban and the rural
In the mid-sixteenth century the development of the ‘putting out’ system (domestic manufacturing) meant that a new style of relationship between the urban and the rural developed. Cloth accounted for 92% (1640), 74% (1660), and 72% (1700) of London’s trade.
Cause of development of new trade networks
New trade networks developed as, although the cloth was now manufactured in rural areas, it could only be sold in the markets which were in towns.
The impact of migrants
they would bring new styles of cloth manufacturing with them, and largely settled in cities. For example, by 1600 migrants made up 35% of the population in Norwich.
Why did urban centres enable trade
They would allow for merchants to import foreign goods, but also ensure that the same goods could be traded around England.
The emergence of banking and finance industries
meant that rather than citizen-merchants taking control of trade, it was disparate group of investors. This would eventually lead to the formation of the companies like the East India Company.
development of communication networks
From 1560s, the development of communication networks also led to the growth of urbanisation. In 1566 two roads connected London to Dover in the South and Berwick in the North. By 1605, Portsmouth, Penryn and Padstow (Cornwall), Barnstaple, Hollyhead (via Birmingham), Carlisle, Penrith, Dale (via Bristol and Swansea) were all final destinations.
