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Year 8 - History

Growing population in Elizabethan England

Life in Tudor England: was there a 'Golden Age' for the poor?

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils assess the extent to which Elizabethan England represented a 'Golden Age' for the poor. They examine the causes of poverty in this period and learn about contemporary responses to this growing problem before evaluating whether things improved for this group.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe the growth of the English population in the later 16th century and explain the impact of the growth.

Key Notes

  • The population of England was growing in the 16th century.
  • Urban areas grew more rapidly than rural areas.
  • Changes to land use in rural areas meant less food was being grown.
  • There was a relationship between population growth and poverty.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • rural: rural refers to the countryside
  • urban: urban refers to towns and cities
  • subsistence: subsistence is the act of maintaining oneself at a most basic level

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Farmers will not starve because they grow their own food.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

The population of England was growing in the 16th century. Urban areas grew more rapidly than rural areas.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'rural'

rural refers to the countryside.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: Farmers will not starve because they grow their own food. Correction: Poor harvests can put a great deal of strain on the amount of food a farmer can grow, even food for subsistence.

More Lessons In This Unit

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