Poverty

Question 1

In the 16th century, England’s birth rate rose and the death rate fell.This led to a huge population growth.During Elizabeth’s reign population increased from 3 million to 4 million.Food

Answer 1

Production didn’t keep pace with the growth of the popultion.Asa result, food prices rose and sometimes there were food shortages

Question 2

As well as this, England suffered several poor harvests in the 1550s and 1560s .As a result,

Answer 2

This led to food shortages and made the peoblem of rising food proceseven worse.This led to harships for many people

Question 3

Traditional Farming methods involved many farmers renting strips of land in large open fields.Each Farmer only grew enough crops for his family.How effective was this ?

Answer 3

This kind of farming was inefficient and in the 16th centrury farmers began changing farming techniques to try and make more money.Instead of sharing open fields with many farmers they enclosed these fields to make larger farms

Question 4

How did the production of wool cause poverty ?

Answer 4

Exporting wool to Europe was more profitable than selling grain.So many landowners stopped growing grain and began sheep farming .This fall in grain production contributed to rising food prices.This meant there was shortages when there was poor harvests

Question 5

These new enclosed farms required less labourers.So ?

Answer 5

Many who rented land were evicted, leaving them unemployed and homeless