early modern

• when was the early modern period?

  1500 - 1750
• hansa merchants:

  why - excellent trade opportunities & they were Protestant so would fit in with the current society

  impact - economically expanded the wool trade with their trade links in the west

  experience - economically successful but not highly regarded by locals (painted by Hans Holbein). expelled by Elizabeth I due to new opportunities to trade east instead.
• roma-gypsies:

  why - fleeing persecution in Eastern Europe

  impact - had very little impact due to their poor skills and work as tinkers and herbalists

  experience - lived on the margins of society and regularly experienced persecution by the authorities. 1530s: Henry VIII passed Egyptians Act ordering them to live in 16 days or stay if they gave up their nomadic lifestyles
• African's/Indian's:

  why - brought on slave ships and worked as servants due to Britain's connection with East India Company (granted charter to trade east in 1600 by the Queen)

  impact - had little impact due to their low status and lack of opportunity

  experience - African's mistreated, used as slaves -> ornaments and status symbols of wealth
• Huguenots:

  why - Louis XIV made Protestantism illegal in 1685 - Charles II offered them denizen status

  impact - highly skilled and brought specialist techniques to Britain -> helped establish Bank of England

  experience - tension between other local craftsmen but given equal rights in 1708
• Palatines:

  why - 1709: promised passage to America however got stuck in Britain due to a lack of funding. Some were fleeing religious persecution and poverty

  impact - did not stay long enough to make an impact

  experience - welcomed at first and £20,000 raised in funds but lied about being Protestant. Few made it to the US and many went to Ireland
• what were ayahs?

  Indian women who worked as nannies for British families - there was a shortage of English nurses in India and as members of 'East India Company' were wealthy they were easily hired to work for British families living in India.

  They had to face a lot of racism as were viewed as natives and if abandoned by their families, had no money and were forced to beg.
• were all africans used as slaves?

  No - some were free. By the end of the 16th century, many had high status jobs. John Blanke worked as a musician for Henry VII and Henry VIII. Some were still servants and depended upon their owners but many integrated into society.
• when were Africans sold into the slave trade?

  Charles II founded 'Royal African Company' in 1672 - took slaves to North America where they were sold to plantation owners.
• Jewish:

  why - escaping persecution in Eastern Europe, welcomed by Oliver Cromwell

  impact - worked as bankers and businessmen and set up synagogues to practice Judaism

  experience - banned from many professions, forced into self-sufficient communities but many businessmen became wealthy. Still faced anti-Semitism - blamed for poor living conditions