Tudor period facts for kids
The Tudor period was a time in English history between 1485 and 1603. During this period, the Tudor dynasty ruled England. The first Tudor king was Henry VII, who started his reign in 1485. This era is sometimes also called the Elizabethan era when talking about the rule of Elizabeth I (1558–1603).
After a time of fewer people due to the Black Death and problems with farming in the late 1300s, the population started to grow again. Selling wool products to other countries in Europe helped England's economy a lot. King Henry VII even made special trade deals in 1496 to help this.
However, things changed for many people. Wages became lower, and there wasn't as much land available. Prices for goods also went up, possibly because of gold coming from the New World and the growing population. This meant that rich people became even richer, and the poor struggled more. This was also when a big change called enclosure began, which affected many people living in the countryside.
Contents
How the Tudor Government Managed Money
New Money from Monasteries
The Tudor government got a lot of money when King Henry VIII closed down the monasteries. This was called the "dissolution of the monasteries." Money that used to go to the Pope, like "First Fruits and Tenths" (a tax on church income), now went to the King.
Because of all this new money, a man named Cromwell created special courts to manage the royal income. These courts made sure the money went to the right places in the government.
Cost of Wars
Wars cost a lot of money. King Henry VIII's wars with France, and later wars fought by his son's government, were very expensive for England. To get more money, the royal Mint (where coins are made) started making coins with less valuable metal. This meant the coins were worth less.
Important Events of the Tudor Period
The Battle of Stoke (1487)
In 1487, King Henry VII faced enemies from the House of York. They wanted to take his crown. They crowned someone else as king and landed a small army in Cumbria. But Henry VII defeated them at East Stoke. This battle was probably the last one in the Wars of the Roses.
The English Reformation
This was one of the most important series of events during the Tudor period. It started because King Henry VIII wanted a divorce from his wife, but Pope Clement VII would not allow it. This led to England breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church.
Kett's Rebellion (1549)
This was the biggest uprising by ordinary people during the Tudor period. It started in 1549. People were protesting against the enclosure of common land, which meant they couldn't use it anymore. The leader, Robert Kett, was later hanged for treason (betraying the king).
Life in Tudor Times
Poverty and Law
About one third of the people in Tudor England lived in poverty. Rich people were expected to give alms (money or food) to help the poor. Tudor laws were very strict for people who couldn't find work. People who left their home parishes to look for jobs were called vagabonds and could be whipped as punishment.
The idea of a workhouse, a place where poor people could live and work, was first suggested in 1576.
Health and Sickness
The average person in Tudor times lived to be about 35 years old. This was because there weren't many good medicines or doctors. Many children died young, with only about 33% to 50% of people reaching the age of 16.
Tudor towns and cities were very crowded and dirty. Most streets were not paved, and there were no sewers or drains. Rubbish was just left in the streets. This meant animals like rats lived everywhere. In bigger places like London, common diseases caused by poor sanitation included smallpox, measles, malaria, typhus, diphtheria, Scarlet fever, and chickenpox.
Outbreaks of the Black Death happened several times, including in 1498, 1535, 1543, 1563, 1589, and 1603. The disease spread quickly because rats carrying infected fleas were common in the dirty conditions.
Food and Meals
Very rich people in the Tudor period ate fancy foods like venison (deer meat), blackbirds, and larks. Fruits and vegetables were only eaten when they were in season. Potatoes were just starting to be grown by farmers, after explorers like Sir Walter Raleigh brought them to Britain. So, they weren't a common food yet.
Homes and Living Places
Most people lived in small villages. Their homes were often simple, with thatched roofs and only one or two rooms. Furniture was basic, and stools were more common than chairs.
Large mansions had many chimneys because they needed many fireplaces to keep the huge rooms warm. These fires were also used for all the cooking. Very large houses were often built in shapes like 'E' or 'H'.
Education for Children
Children from poorer families usually did not go to school. Children from richer families had tutors who taught them reading and French at home. However, boys were often sent to schools that belonged to monasteries. There, they would mostly learn Latin in classes that could have up to 60 boys. Schools were strict, and caning (being hit with a stick) was common.
Fun and Games
Rich people enjoyed hunting deer and wild boar for their big feasts. They also liked watching fencing and jousting contests. Many wealthy people also watched bear fighting, where dogs fought a chained bear.
Tudor Fashion
In Tudor times, your clothes showed how rich you were. Wealthy people could afford clothes made from fine linen or silk. Their clothes were often decorated with gold thread and jewels. Ladies wore corsets, which were stiff garments made with bone, to make their waists look smaller. Poorer people wore simple clothes made from wool. Men wore tunics and trousers, while women wore long dresses with aprons over them.
Tudor Monarchs
The House of Tudor had five English rulers during this period:
- Henry VII (1485 to 1509)
- Henry VIII (1509 to 1547)
- Edward VI (1547 to 1553)
- Lady Jane Grey (1553) - She was queen for only nine days. She was not a member of the Tudor family.
- Mary I (1553 to 1558)
- Elizabeth I (1558 to 1603)
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Período Tudor para niños
