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Britain, 1625–1701: Conflict, Revolution and Settlement

The changing structure of society

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 1

Overview

Recall questions on the changing power of the nobility, the rise of the gentry debate, urbanisation, the professions, and how landholding law changed.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

What is meant by the 'rise of the gentry' debate?

Who and when

How did urbanisation progress in this period?

Key term

Which professional groups expanded?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What happened to the power of the nobility across the century?

    Model answer

    Their military role disappeared, the Lords was abolished and then restored with reduced authority, and influence came increasingly through office, court connection and landed wealth rather than lordship.

  2. 2

    How did the gentry change in this period?

    Model answer

    They grew in number and wealth, dominated county government and the Commons, and their standing rested on land, education and office rather than birth alone.

  3. 3

    What is meant by the 'rise of the gentry' debate?

    Model answer

    The historical argument, associated with Tawney and Trevor-Roper, over whether the Civil War is explained by a rising or a declining gentry; the thesis is now generally rejected as too simple.

  4. 4

    How did urbanisation progress in this period?

    Model answer

    London's dominance grew and ports handling Atlantic trade expanded, while many older market towns stagnated; England remained overwhelmingly rural.

  5. 5

    Which professional groups expanded?

    Model answer

    Lawyers, physicians, naval and army officers, clergy and civil servants, as government, litigation and empire all grew.

  6. 6

    How did merchants' standing change?

    Model answer

    Colonial and re-export trade created large fortunes, and successful merchants bought land, married into the gentry and lent to the state, blurring the line between commerce and gentility.

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