Socio-economic Flashcards
What was the nobility?
Very powerful, limitimh power by bonds- dependent on them to maintain law and order in society, did not offer patronage to many noblemen
The commoners
Anyone in society apart from the nobility - wealthy landowners, merchants- trade, Yeomen- independent farmers, Husbandmen- independent subsistence farmers who had their own land, Cottagers and labourers- farmers who worked on other people’s land
Landlords/tenants
Commoners that lived off the land of noblemen
Court of Exechequer
Inefficient body that decreased income from his estates- gave them to powerful noble families
Chambery system
Yorkist system- able to manage his income- by the end of the year income from crown lands waw 42,000 a year
Common issues in economy
- Enclosure/engrossing- meaning that agricultural land which was once common was now exclusively owned and bad harvest and ill health
Crown lands
Collect rents from all those who had leased land on his estates
Feudal dues
Collecting money from his nobles on special occasions
Custom Duties
40% of Henry’s income- taxes put on goods entering and leaving the country
legal dues
Henry could call revenue from the fines given in critical cases
Foreign powers and accumulating wealth
Securing annual pension from another foreign power
Church/ wealth
Henry auctioned the use of his right to appointment leading on churchmen
Royal Council/wealth
Had right to ask for financial help
Yorkish rebellion
1489-Due to heavy taxation, political unrest, social equality-widespread discontent. Rebellion broke out leading to the murder of Earl of Northumberland which was a direct attack on royal authority. Rebels were defeated by forces led by the Earl of Surrey and did not raise another tax in the north
Cornish rebellion
1497- raised taxes to pay to defended Northern borders against Scotland/Perkin Warbeck. An army of rebels reached Blackheath, near london. Hundreds of the rebels were executed and the leaders executed
Trade
1485 Navigation Acts- no English merchants were to use foreign ships to transport goods
1489- export of English raw wool was limited
1496- Magnus Intercursus, important trade deal with Burgundy- allowed English merchants to trade freely throughout Burgundy
How many noblemen were there in England
50
Englands mediterranean trade
1490- Henry cut exports of English wool to Venice but increased them to its rival, Florence- led to Venice cutting the taxes on English merchants trading in the Mediterranean
Exploration
Encouraged the Cabots to explore America for England- discovered Newfoundland and the hudson bay but his successor ignored them
