2. XV century (1485)
• Unused land : oak trees and wild animals
“Islands” of human settlements, villages, towns
• Few towns than 3000 inhabitants
XVI century
• Increase of population
Land cleared to feed sheep
Trees cut down to provide wood
(shipbuilding industry)
3. • Social and economic problems
• Food and goods overpriced
• Wheat and barley (bread and beer) over five
times (1510-1650)
• Prices but wages
INFLATION
• Government made coins (50% less
precious metal)
4. • Increase of population
• England and Wales 2.2 million (1525)
4 million (1603)
Population Food
YEOMAN 100 acres of land
Food to sell
Employed men
+ Prices
5. • Poor people 20 acres
Rent
Unemployed
Nor money, nor food
Sheep farming + profitable Wool
than crops Cloth industry
To keep sheep fences to enclose public lands
6. • Enclosure of land illegal
Justices of Peace (JP)
= landlords
Peasants lost land
Could not be controlled by Government
Unemployment
7. • Dissolution of Monasteries
Employed people
Provided food
1536 People from N marched to London
“Pilgrimage of Grace”
Defeated Leaders executed
Poor became thieves
Henry VIII 7000 thieves hanged
