Henry VII: Society

• By 1500:

  2 million Commoners, roughly 50% in poverty

  Husbandmen + Yeomen - Able to rent or buy land/property

  55 Nobles, 500 Knights, 800 Esquires and 5,000 Gentlemen - Roughly 1% of population

  Regular Clergy - 10,000

  Secular Clergy - 35,000
• Agriculture:

  Enclosure increased

  Caused depopulation, 1488-89 legislation never enforced to prevent this

  Increase in wool production
• Industry: Merchants and capitalism increased
• Coinage: New coins introduced, Shilling bore King's effigy
• Cabot's exploration of America gave knowledge but exploration was not a priority
• Cloth Trade: Hanseatic League retained privilege to control bullion exports after Intercursus Malus
• Tin mines in Cornwall, Lead in Pennines, Coal in Northumberland and Durham