Society

• what was the population of england in 1485

  1.5 million
• what is the great chain of being

  the hierarchical social system starting with the king and working its way down through different ranks of society
• why was there more opportunity for workers

  the black death had wiped out 20-40% of the country
• what led to the creation of a middle class

  growth of major towns which created opportunity
• what did the nobility still dominate

  land ownership
• who was the peerage made up of

  50/60 powerful men with land, troops and political influence
• which nobles did henry actually trust

  the earl of oxford, lord daubeney, earl of northumberland, earl of surrey
• how did henry control the nobility

  Bonds and recognisances
• When were peers and MPs required to take an oath against illegal retaining or being illegally retained?

  1486
• when was a law against retaining established

  1487
• when did parliament pass an act that supported the law of 1487

  1504
• what did the 1504 law against retaining state


  only the king could grant licenses for retaining
• who was made an example of illegally retaining

  lord burgavenny who was fined 70k in 1507
• what were the limitations of lord burgavenny's case

  he only had to pay 1000 in a bond before henry died in 1509 and henry 8 soon pardoned him
• where did the great gentry come in the great chain of being

  below the nobility
• who was part of the great gentry

  sir reginald bray
• by 1490 how many knights were amongst the great gentry


  375
• how much of the land in england did the knights in the great gentry and the nobility own

  15-20%
• how were the gentry different to the great gentry

  they were far greater in number, be educated and own land but not to the extent of the great gentry
• what did the church offer for people

  it offered a spiritual role
• what did the church have lots of

  land, wealth and power
• who is an example of a well educated, legally trained bishop

  john morton
• who had the last position in the great chain of being

  the commoners
• who was the middling sort

  the top of the common class (lawyers/ administrators)
• who were the yeomen


  A minor class of farmers that owned land. Had more than peasants but still struggled.
• who were at the last order

  the peasants
• what were enclosures


  large farm fields enclosed by fences or hedges
• why did the midlands benefit from enclosures

  many had changed from arable (crop) farming to pastoral (animal) farming
• how much of the midlands was enclosed


  3%
• when did henry pass the first law against enclosures

  1489 - never really enforced though
• how much of the population lived in towns

  5%
• by 1490 how many towns were there in england


  700
• how many were there in london by 1490

  30,000