Life in England and Scotland in the 17th Century
Life in England and Scotland in the 17th century
(English Literature Presentation)
1 – England and Scotland During the 17th century England and Scotland became steadily richer. Trade and commerce grew and grew. By the late 17th century trade was an increasingly important part of their economy. Meanwhile industries such as glass, brick making, iron and coal mining expanded rapidly. Meanwhile the East India Company was founded in 1600. The English founded a trading post at Canton, China in 1637.
2 – Society During the 17th century the status of merchants improved. People saw that trade was an increasingly important part of the country's wealth so merchants became more respected. However political power and influence was held by rich landowners. At the top of society were the nobility. Below them were the gentry. Gentlemen were not quite rich but they were certainly well off. Below them were yeomen, farmers who owned their own land. Yeomen were comfortably off but they often worked alongside their men. Gentlemen did not do manual work. Below them came the mass of the population, craftsmen, tenant farmers and labourers. At the end of the 17th century a writer estimated that half the population could afford to eat meat every day. In other words about 50% of the people were wealthy of at least reasonably well off. Below them about 30% of the population could afford to eat meat between 2 and 6 times a week. They were 'poor'. The bottom 20% could only eat meat once a week. They were very poor. At least part of the time they had to rely on poor relief. By an act of 1601 overseers of the poor were appointed by each parish. They had power to force people to pay a local tax to help the poor. Those who could not work such as the old and the disabled would be provided for.
3 – Towns Stuart towns were dirty and unsanitary. People threw dirty water and other rubbish in the streets. Furthermore the streets were very narrow. At
(English Literature Presentation)
1 – England and Scotland During the 17th century England and Scotland became steadily richer. Trade and commerce grew and grew. By the late 17th century trade was an increasingly important part of their economy. Meanwhile industries such as glass, brick making, iron and coal mining expanded rapidly. Meanwhile the East India Company was founded in 1600. The English founded a trading post at Canton, China in 1637.
2 – Society During the 17th century the status of merchants improved. People saw that trade was an increasingly important part of the country's wealth so merchants became more respected. However political power and influence was held by rich landowners. At the top of society were the nobility. Below them were the gentry. Gentlemen were not quite rich but they were certainly well off. Below them were yeomen, farmers who owned their own land. Yeomen were comfortably off but they often worked alongside their men. Gentlemen did not do manual work. Below them came the mass of the population, craftsmen, tenant farmers and labourers. At the end of the 17th century a writer estimated that half the population could afford to eat meat every day. In other words about 50% of the people were wealthy of at least reasonably well off. Below them about 30% of the population could afford to eat meat between 2 and 6 times a week. They were 'poor'. The bottom 20% could only eat meat once a week. They were very poor. At least part of the time they had to rely on poor relief. By an act of 1601 overseers of the poor were appointed by each parish. They had power to force people to pay a local tax to help the poor. Those who could not work such as the old and the disabled would be provided for.
3 – Towns Stuart towns were dirty and unsanitary. People threw dirty water and other rubbish in the streets. Furthermore the streets were very narrow. At