Topic 2: early modern (1500-1700)

• Changes in religion

  England was seen as a place of safety for Protestants during these years. Non-Catholics migrated to England to avoid persecution.
• Changes in government

  Government was closely linked to religion. The Protestant governments welcomed European Protestants to England as a humanitarian and economic act.
• Changes in global trade

  The growth in trade led some Indian people, mainly sailors and servants, to migrate to England. The growth of the British Empire began the forced migration of enslaved African people to England's colonies, and, by 1700, to England.
• Religious changes in England

  1. In 1500, England was a Catholic country under the Pope

  2. In 1534 Henry VIII made himself head of the Church in England instead

  3. Protestant ideas influenced changes

  4. When Edward VI (1547-53) ruled, England became a Protestant country

  5. When Mary I (1553-58) ruled, England returned to being a Catholic country

  6. When Elizabeth I (1558-1603) ruled, England became a fully Protestant country
• Political changes in England

  1. During the 1500s, Parliament was called more regularly and played a greater role in England's affairs

  2. In the 1600s, Parliament's belief that it should control the government led to the English Civil War between 1642 and 1651

  3. King Charles I was executed in 1649 and Oliver Cromwell ruled England as a republic for 11 years

  4. Parliament invited King Charles II to return in 1660, but his powers were limited

  5. James II became king in 1685 but he was very unpopular because he was Catholic

  6. Parliament invited the Protestant Prince William of Orange and his wife Mary to 'invade England and become joint monarchs
• Privateering


  When a ship attacks and steals from another ship at sea with the consent of a monarch or government
• Charter


  Written permission from the monarch giving rights and privileges to individuals and groups
• St Bartholomew's Day Massacre

  When King Charles IX of France ordered the killing of Huguenot leaders in Paris. It is estimated that 3000 Huguenots were killed in Paris and 70,000 in the rest of France
• Denizenship

  The process of denization was for an individual wealthy migrant (denizen) to be given the rights of English-born subjects in return for swearing exclusive loyalty to the English monarch
• Rabbi

  A Jewish religious leader
• Lascar


  An Indian sailor who worked on the ships of the East India Company
• Ayah


  A nursemaid or nanny employed by European people in India
• Key migrant groups


  • Huguenots (French Protestants)
  • Palatines (German Protestants)
  • Jewish people
  • Indian people
  • African people
• By the 1650s, the persecution of Jewish people in Europe was increasing
• Cromwell agreed that Jewish people should be welcomed back into England after meeting with Rabbi Menasseh Ben Israel
• In 1656, a small group of Jewish migrants settled outside London, in Aldgate. They worshipped privately until a synagogue was built in Aldgate at the end of 1656. Over time, more Jewish people migrated and settled in trading ports including London, Liverpool and Portsmouth.
• Between the years c.1500 and c.1700, the East India Company set up trading posts all over India
• Some Indian people migrated to England to continue their work, for example looking after their employers' children (ayahs) or as servants. Some men worked as lascars and stayed in England to work on ships. Some women migrated because they had married Englishmen.
• Between the years c.1500 and c.1700, African people were working in the royal court and in ordinary households (although black people have lived in England since the Roman Empire). They carried out a range of skilled jobs and were paid the same wages as other workers. The institution of slavery was not legal in England at the time (although there is evidence that enslavement did happen).
• Some African people migrated to England because they were bought from, or escaped from, Portuguese traders. Some also migrated from Spain because of religious differences. They lived and worked in England as musicians, sailors and interpreters.
• Migrant groups in Britain, c.800-pre

  • Protestants (Huguenots)
  • Jewish people
  • African people
  • Indian people
• Huguenots in England


  • Found work with friends and relatives in industries including spinning, weaving and finance
  • Some began their own businesses
• German Palatines in England


  • Struggled initially as they did not have many skills and could not find labouring work
  • English people became hostile, fearing the Palatines would take jobs away
  • The government responded in 1709 by settling 3000 Palatines in Ireland
• Jewish migrants in London

  • A larger synagogue was built in 1701 with permission from the authorities
  • Some experienced success as merchants, bankers and doctors
  • Jewish migrant communities in the seaports found work as tailors, shopkeepers and pawnbrokers
  • Some struggled financially and needed to rely on support such as donations of food, money and clothing
  • Though more people accepted Jewish migrants, there is evidence of antisemitism as Jewish people were forbidden to attend university, become lawyers or serve in the army
• African migrants in England

  • Some worked as weavers, servants and sailors
  • By 1650, English merchants were involved in the trade of enslaved African people, leading to racist treatment of some black people
  • In the late 1600s, it became fashionable for wealthy white people to have a black person as a servant, especially a child
• Indian migrants in England

  • Some Indian sailors (lascars) settled in port cities
  • Some continued to work as sailors on ships or as labourers
  • Some Indian servants who returned with their masters were treated with respect and looked after, while others were replaced by English servants
  • Indian children were also used as servants and seen as status symbols to show their employers' wealth
• Printing press

  A device invented in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg to print pages using moveable type. Prior to this, books were written by monks in Latin.
• Brocade


  A heavy silk fabric that is richly decorated using gold and silver thread
• Migration of Huguenots and building of their own churches

  Led to more acceptance of religious difference in England
• In 1500, the five printers in England using the printing press


  Were all European. Printing books led to new ideas being shared.
• Huguenots brought new words

  Including 'brocade'. Road names in London also changed to reflect their skills, such as Petticoat Lane.
• As Jewish communities spread

  Words such as 'synagogue' and 'rabbi' became as familiar as they had been in the twelfth century.
• Migrants famous for contributions to art and literature

  • Hans Holbein, from Germany, famously painted portraits of King Henry VIII.
  • Polydore Vergil, from Italy, wrote books about English history.
• Cloth trade

  Benefited from the skills of the Huguenots. England's silk production increased and was exported. English weavers learned techniques from the Huguenots.
• European migrants in England

  Worked in the book trade and helped this trade to grow.
• Huguenots

  Brought new fabrics to English fashion, such as silk. They also helped to develop the steel industry in Sheffield. The Huguenots started the English paper industry. There were 200 paper mills in England by 1714.
• Huguenots

  Invested in the Bank of England in the seventeenth century. London became a major financial centre.
• Jewish migrants

  Contributed to the English economy as merchants and financiers. Successful Jewish businessmen financially supported monarchs and noblemen.
• Dutch migrants

  Changed the landscape of England by straightening rivers and building embankments, windmills and pumps.
• Changes to the Fens landscape

  Led to changes in farming, including the introduction of geese and the planting of hemp.