England in 1509 (Edexcel GCSE History)

Life in Tudor England - Summary

England in Tudor times was very different to England today. The population of England was roughly 2.2 million. In comparison, the population of England in 2024 is approximately 57 million.

In Tudor times, London was England’s biggest city, with a population of 60,000. Other cities included Norwich, Exeter, York and Coventry. In 1509, only 6% of people lived in cities. The other 94% lived in the countryside.

Living standards in Tudor England depended on people's social status. The nobility and wealthy landowners enjoyed comfortable lifestyles with luxurious homes. A meal could easily be twelve courses in a nobleman’s castle or the Royal Court. The majority of the population worked on farms or in trades to make a living. Many people in Tudor England lived in small, timber-framed homes. They had limited access to education and healthcare.

During Tudor times, England's economy was largely dependent on agriculture. A successful harvest meant prosperity for farmers and ensured food security for the entire community. Poor weather conditions or crop failures could lead to food shortages and poverty. Two or three bad harvests in a row led to illness, even death from starvation. This reliance on the harvests made Tudor England's economy and society vulnerable.

The Tudor Social System

• People in Tudor England had a clear understanding of their place within society

• In Tudor times, this was called the 'Great Chain of Being'

Why was the hierarchy of society important?

• The hierarchy depended on both giving and receiving

  • Those lower down in the hierarchy had to respect those at the top and worked for them

  • The richer people in society needed the workers' services. They paid the workers

• The hierarchy enforced law and order

  • There were many more people at the bottom of the hierarchy than at the top

  • The people at the top used their power and influence to maintain law and order

    • Around 94% of the population lived in the countryside

    • These people were furthest away from the monarch's influence

    • The monarch depended upon the hierarchy in the countryside to maintain control over the masses

• Tudor society worried about the people at the bottom of society because:

  • Vagrants had no employer, which meant they were not workers

  • They did not own land or a business, which meant they were not a yeoman or a craftsman

• The hierarchy affected Tudor beliefs

  • People in the 16th century did not believe in social mobility or equality

    • Many people believed that God had given them their place in society

    • Only a few exceptional people in the 16th century moved up in society

Tudor Government

• The king had the most power in Tudor times

• Each section of government had responsibility over certain aspects of the country

Areas of Tudor government

The Wool & Cloth Trade

• In Tudor times, England relied on the wool and cloth trades

• London was a growing centre of trade, especially weaving and the wool trade

  • People from London traded with European countries, including the Netherlands, Spain and Russia

Trade in Tudor England

Religion in 1509

• By the time Henry became King, England had been a Catholic country for nearly a thousand years

• Religion played an incredibly important role in Tudor people’s day-to-day lives

• The Church controlled people’s lives from ‘cradle to grave’ 

  • People went to Church every Sunday

  • As a baby, the Church would christen them

  • The Church would marry them

  • When they died, they would have a funeral at the Church

• Tudors believed in the importance of celebrating festivals

  • Harvest festivals thanked God for a successful harvest and the avoidance of famine

  • Holy Days like All Saints Day called for Catholics to take Mass

• The Church gave support to the local community

  • The Church taught their congregation the values needed to lead a good life

    • People in Tudor times strongly believed in the concepts of heaven and hell

    • The Church told the people that, if they committed sins, they would go to hell. This scared many people in Tudor society to follow and respect the authority of the monarch and the Church

  • They provided food and shelter for the poor