Life In Medieval England Flashcards
(87 cards)
How were people adapting to things other than the feudal system?
Lords of the manor for labour services in return for granting land to villagers
Many land owners now preferred to rent out their land for cash and to pay wages to peasants
Also, open fields and common land were being enclosed by landowners so they could graze sheep
How did this affect peasants?
It meant opportunity for some but poverty and hardship for the others
In 1300, a quarter of rural families rented or owned enough land to support themselves however many had no land at all
Many had to work for wages, earn enough to buy food to their families
How did peasants earn money in other ways?
They could brew ale and sell it in the village - commonly carried out by women
Produce eggs, milk, cheese, fruit, vegetables, honey and wax for candles, were sold in the growing towns
Hemp and madder (plant frown to make red dye) were produced for cloth trade
Why was the Wool Trade a massive change?
Wool was making England Wealthy
English wool was seen as the best in Europe so was in great demand by cloth-makers
By 1300, there were 12million sheeps in England and 2/3 of wool came from flocks owned by peasants
Jobs were also connected to the wool trade e.g. spinners, carders, fullers, dyers, weavers, Shepard’s and builders,sailors who took wool on ships to ports e.t.c
How did population of towns change?
An increasing number of people moved to towns looking for opportunities as if you lived in a town for a year and a day without being taken back to your village, you were s few man
Many lords allowed surplus workers to leave the manor in exchange for payment
Usually younger people or labourers who left for towns although sometimes craftsmen would move to have a bigger market for their goods
Why did towns grow because of markets?
The Main Street of a town would be lined by merchant’s houses, and would lead into a market place where stalls would sell a variety of goods
There might even be acrobats, musicians, pie-sellers or people who looked after your horse
How were towns places to make things?
There were a lot of brewers, wine-makers, carpenters, metal worker, basket-makers, wig-makers, scribes, locksmiths, glove makers, rope-makers
Why were many towns established by the King/Church/Lords of the Manor?
Because successful towns were seen as a good way to make money from tolls and land sales
How is Kingston-upon-Hull a good example of this?
The town of Wyke had a population of 60 households.
When Edward bought it from the monks in 1293, he immediately improved the roads to and from town, granted permission to hold two weekly markets and an annual fair
By 1299, Hull has its own charter, court, prison and gallows
It’s merchants were exempt from tolls through country
Hull grieve rapidly and became a good port for the export of wool
Why would you smell a medieval town before you saw it?
Many rivers or streams were full of manure and sewage as gongfleurs and night soil men dumped the sewage into here
What would cities look like?
Church’s and cathedrals or castles would dominate the skylines and large towns/cities would be surrounded by a wall sometimes for defuse or just to show importance e.g. Coventry
You’d often enter through gates so non-residents could be tolled for using bridges or selling in the market
The gates would close at dusk and residents kept an eye on strangers
What were houses and diseases like in towns?
Poor people were squeezed into older houses away from the centre. Landlords built houses to rent and make lots of money
Infectious diseases could spread easily in overcrowded conditions.
It was difficult to get fresh water and most people didn’t have proper drains
What efforts were used to clean up towns?
In Lincoln 1286, pavements were laid. Trades such as butchering animals/animal markets were on the edge of towns
Governments tried to limit number of pigs roaming around
People often made efforts to wash and keep clean and wood ash, mutton fat and natural soda were used to make soap for washing people and clothes but rich people could afford imported soap and their servants has to run their hot baths and dispose of water afterwards
How did Edward tax the wool trade?
In 1272, the export of wool to Flanders was banned due to a dispute but merchants were desperate to sell their wool
They asked Edward to settle the dispute. A settlement was reached but included wool merchants paying Edward 7s and 6d on every sack of wool
This was consented to in Edward’s first parliament meeting
How did Edward get loans?
He depended on the Riccardi family of Luca do loans
They partly funded his crusade and when he became king, he borrowed money from them using customs on wool as security
Edward’s welsh wars were largely financed by such loans
Why did it all go wrong in 1294?
He had borrowed an estimated £390,000 from them but when war broke out with France, the Riccardi family were caught short of funds as they were financing the King of France as well as Edward
Communications were disrupted and the Riccardis didn’t have endings money to meet their demands
How did Edward react to them being short of funds?
He was angry at their lack of funds and support for France that Edward got rid of his debts and the Riccardi family were ruined
Other Italian bankers e.g. Frescobaldi family, took over and became Edward’s main source of income
Bankers were willing to lend to Edward because of the security provided by the customs duty on wool (which remained in strong demand)
What coins were there at start of Edward’s reign?
Only silver pennies, and for a half penny, you’d cut it in half
How were there problems with the coinage?
.
Some people clipped coins (shaving extra silver of them)
Also a lot of under-value French coins circulating in England(coins which didn’t have enough silver)
What did Edward do in response as you couldn’t trust all coins?
Philip de Cambio was hanged for issuing coins without enough silver in them
All the goldsmiths and Jewish moneylenders were arrested and charged with clipping - 273 found guilty and hanged
How did he fix the coin problem?
In 1279, Edward called in all existing coins and replaced them with new ones, bearing his image
He then borrowed £20,000 silver bullion from his Italian bankers and began making new coins
New values were introduced - the 4d, halfpenny ad the farthing
This stopped people from coin-clipping
As the old coins were collected, they were melted down and made into new ones - Edward gained £25,000 in profit
What happened in 1294 with the wool tax?
As he was faced with the prospect of war with Scotland and France, Edward raised wool tax to 40 shillings our week
How did the rich wool merchants react?
Most agreed to it as they could past the cost into customers,
Why did others resisted?
Wool prices were low, so the 40 shillings tax was an enormous demand
The Lords said in Parliament that the whole country itself feels burden by the tax in wools.
Many peasants, landowners, churches and monasteries depended on wool, and on selling wool at a fair price
