Gentry

• Income varied from £10 to £200 a year (£1700 - £34000 today)
• Some wealthier than poorer nobles
• Important roles such as JPs and in parliament
• Some titles: knight and squire
• The stability of elizabethan England saw the growth of this class
• Gentry families made their income from population growth, rising prices and trade
• Gentry were able to educate themselves and rise the social ladder
• Merchants became more respected with the increase of trade
• Merchants became incredibly rich
• Because of the dissolution of the monasteries, a quarter of the land in England went on sale and the gentry bought it