Changes in government at the centre
How efectve were the ee d 螰evelopments in Tud螰or government
an螰 a螰ministraton?
The role of the monarchy, nobility and gentry in Tudor England
English society was based on hierarchy
God was at the top, and the monarch was divinely appointed
The monarch had no standing Army, so had to rely on the nobility (so sensibly
restricted noble growth (“over mighty nobility”) while maintaining loyalty)
Gentry and nobles oversaw local governance and order
Nobility and gentry
Nobles and gentry helped the monarch to govern
Nobles were dukes, Earls or viscounts (40 to 60 nobles)
Nobles held 10% of land that could be cultvated
Gentry were made of knights and esquires (5,000 gentry families)
Number of knights increased during the period
It was possible to gain rank (service, marriage, inheritance) and lose rank (politcal
miscalculaton, economic hardship)
Yeomen and artsans
Yeomen often tended and owned their own land (60,000 yeomen by 1600)
As landowners, they were relatvely nancially secure
Artsans – as skilled craftsmen – became prosperous in the wool and cloth trade
(main Tudor export)
Yeomen and artsans often led popular rebellion initally, as they were educated
Though they became less involved in rebellion as they became more involved
in governance
Peasants
Most people lived and worked rurally (agricultural economy)
Peasantry worked for landlords for wages
Peasants did not own land, and were economically vulnerable
Vagrants and beggars
Vagrants and beggars did not have masters, and roamed
They were feared as not confrontng to social hierarchy
Vagrants and beggars were harshly treated under Tudor Acts of Parliament
The monarchy and government
The monarch was most important in terms of Tudor policy
The Tudor government could both help and hinder monarchical rule
What was the Royal Court?
Royal Court served the monarch, and followed the monarch
Royal Court was an important source of patronage
Royal Court allowed the Tudor monarchs to display their power and wealth,
partcularly to foreign visitors
What was the role of the Royal Household?
How efectve were the ee d 螰evelopments in Tud螰or government
an螰 a螰ministraton?
The role of the monarchy, nobility and gentry in Tudor England
English society was based on hierarchy
God was at the top, and the monarch was divinely appointed
The monarch had no standing Army, so had to rely on the nobility (so sensibly
restricted noble growth (“over mighty nobility”) while maintaining loyalty)
Gentry and nobles oversaw local governance and order
Nobility and gentry
Nobles and gentry helped the monarch to govern
Nobles were dukes, Earls or viscounts (40 to 60 nobles)
Nobles held 10% of land that could be cultvated
Gentry were made of knights and esquires (5,000 gentry families)
Number of knights increased during the period
It was possible to gain rank (service, marriage, inheritance) and lose rank (politcal
miscalculaton, economic hardship)
Yeomen and artsans
Yeomen often tended and owned their own land (60,000 yeomen by 1600)
As landowners, they were relatvely nancially secure
Artsans – as skilled craftsmen – became prosperous in the wool and cloth trade
(main Tudor export)
Yeomen and artsans often led popular rebellion initally, as they were educated
Though they became less involved in rebellion as they became more involved
in governance
Peasants
Most people lived and worked rurally (agricultural economy)
Peasantry worked for landlords for wages
Peasants did not own land, and were economically vulnerable
Vagrants and beggars
Vagrants and beggars did not have masters, and roamed
They were feared as not confrontng to social hierarchy
Vagrants and beggars were harshly treated under Tudor Acts of Parliament
The monarchy and government
The monarch was most important in terms of Tudor policy
The Tudor government could both help and hinder monarchical rule
What was the Royal Court?
Royal Court served the monarch, and followed the monarch
Royal Court was an important source of patronage
Royal Court allowed the Tudor monarchs to display their power and wealth,
partcularly to foreign visitors
What was the role of the Royal Household?
