The upper class and middle class had a better standard of living. As England grew more and more prosperous the homes of the well off became more comfortable. However the lowest section of society, became worse off. In the 14th century a large part of the population died of the plague. As a result there was a shortage of labour so wages went up. but during this time there was inflation, especially in the mid-century, and prices rose steeply. They reached their lowest point in 1594-97there was famine and In Cumbria, a poor and isolated part of England people starved to death.
Tudor society was divided into four broad groups. At the top were the nobility who owned huge amounts of land. Below them were the gentry and rich merchants. Gentlemen owned large amounts of land and they were usually educated and had a family coat of arms. Most important gentlemen never did any manual work, that was beneath their dignity. Below the gentry were yeomen and craftsmen. Yeomen owned their own land. They could be as wealthy as gentlemen but they worked alongside their men. Yeomen and craftsmen were often able to read and write. Below the yeomen were the tenant farmers who leased their land from the rich. There were also wage labourers. They were often illiterate and very poor.
Some Tudor women worked spinning cloth. Women were also tailoresses, milliners, dyers, shoemakers and embroiderers. There were also washerwomen. Some women worked in food preparation such as brewers, bakers or confectioners. However most Tudor women were housewives and they were kept very busy. Most men could not run a farm or a business without their wife's help.
- I FOUND THIS INFORMATION AT THIS WEBSITE --> http://www.localhistories.org/tudor.html
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