Society

• What was the trend regarding feudalism during Henry VII's reign?

  Slow decline and ultimate collapse
• How did the class system function in English society during this period?

  It was hierarchical with little social mobility
• Who was at the top of the social hierarchy?

  The king
• What was the relationship between the nobility and Henry VII?

  Henry distrusted the nobility significantly
• How many noble families existed around 1500?

  About 55 noble families
• What was the primary source of wealth for the nobility?

  Land ownership
• What role did the nobility play in enforcing law and order?

  They helped the king maintain law and order
• Who made up the gentry class?

  Knights, esquires, gentlemen
• How many gentry were there compared to the nobility?

  Significantly more than the nobility
• What percentage of the English population did the gentry and nobility represent?

  About 1% of the population
• What was the gentry's responsibility in society?

  Maintain law and order and collect taxes
• How did the political representation of the gentry and nobility change after 1495?

  Parliament was called less frequently
• What church dominated English society during Henry VII's reign?

  The Roman Catholic Church
• How many clergy were part of the Catholic Church in England?

  About 10,000 clergy and 35,000 secular clergy
• What was the role of the church's judicial system?

  To handle religious crimes and disputes
• What social divisions existed within the clergy?

  Significant divisions between senior and lower clergy
• How many commoners lived in England around 1500?

  About 2 million commoners
• What percentage of commoners lived below the poverty line?

  About half of the commoners
• What type of work did most commoners engage in?

  Agricultural work in rural England
• What was the state of social mobility during Henry VII's reign?

  Very rare occurrence
• What was the primary occupation of the laboring poor among commoners?

  Agricultural work
• How many commoners lived in England around 1500?

  Approximately 2 million
• Who represented the smallest percentage of English society?

  The gentry and nobility
• What percentage of commoners lived below the poverty line?

  About half
• What were the commoners living below the poverty line called?

  The laboring poor
• Where did most commoners work during this period?

  In rural England, primarily in agriculture
• How common was social mobility during the first half of Henry VII's reign?

  It was very rare
• When did social mobility begin to increase in England?

  In the later years of the Tudors
• What was the structure of society like during Henry VII's reign?

  It remained largely unchanged
• What was the council governing the northern part of England?

  The council of the North
• Where was the council of the North located?

  In York
• What council governed Wales and the marshes?

  The council of Wales and the marshes
• What overseas territories did England have during this period?

  Parts of Ireland and Calais
• What happened to Calais during Mary I's reign?

  It was lost
• How did regional governance affect the king's power?

  It limited the king's power in some regions
• What was the role of regional councils in governance?

  They maintained law and order regionally
• What were the two notable rebellions during Henry VII's reign?

  The Yorkshire and Cornish rebellions
• What common issue sparked both the Yorkshire and Cornish rebellions?

  Issues relating to money
• What was the main cause of the Yorkshire rebellion?

  Raising revenue for a war
• Who was murdered during the Yorkshire rebellion?

  The Earl of Northumberland