Lecture

Households: Structures, Priorities, Strategies, Roles

Professor Wrightson discusses the structures of households in early modern England, differentiating between urban and rural households. Key points include:

  • Establishment processes, courtship, and marriage
  • Roles and responsibilities within households, particularly for women and children
  • Impact of external crises on household dynamics
  • Strategies for household survival during difficult times

This analysis reveals how households differed significantly from modern expectations.


Course Lectures
  • General Introduction
    Keith Wrightson

    Professor Wrightson introduces the course, outlining its significance and the main features of early modern England's political and social landscape. He highlights the critical social changes during this transformative period, emphasizing the impact on both Britain and its colonies, including early America and Canada.

  • Century
    Keith Wrightson

    Professor Wrightson sketches the social order of early modern England, focusing on the concepts of ''estates'' and ''commonwealth.'' He explores:

    • The differences between rural and urban social structures
    • The roles of women and youth
    • The hierarchy of nobility, gentry, and commonalty
    • Social mechanisms preserving order, such as prescriptive literature

    While the theory suggested a rigid hierarchy, in practice, social relationships were more fluid.

  • Professor Wrightson discusses the structures of households in early modern England, differentiating between urban and rural households. Key points include:

    • Establishment processes, courtship, and marriage
    • Roles and responsibilities within households, particularly for women and children
    • Impact of external crises on household dynamics
    • Strategies for household survival during difficult times

    This analysis reveals how households differed significantly from modern expectations.

  • In this module, Professor Wrightson addresses the concept of community in early modern England, examining:

    • Modern perceptions versus lived realities of community
    • The roles of lordship, tenancy, and social bonds
    • Institutional frameworks such as guilds
    • Relationships of kinship and neighborliness

    He argues that while communities provided essential social bonds, they could also be sites of conflict and restriction.

  • Professor Wrightson discusses local particularism and regionalism in early modern England, focusing on:

    • Local customs and economic patterns
    • The integration of local areas into a national framework
    • The significance of trade and market towns
    • The role of London as a metropolis

    This lecture emphasizes the interconnectedness of various localities and their contribution to national economic life.

  • The Structures of Power
    Keith Wrightson

    Professor Wrightson discusses the structures of power in early modern England, focusing on:

    • Recent trends in political history
    • Formal institutions of government, including law courts and Parliament
    • The dynamics of royal power and authority
    • The roles of key figures like Henry VII and Henry VIII

    This exploration of political culture underscores the evolution of governance during the Tudor period.

  • Professor Wrightson surveys the religious landscape of late medieval England leading up to the Reformation, discussing:

    • The vibrancy of the late medieval church
    • Critics of Catholicism and their motivations
    • The influence of Lollards and early reformers
    • The role of religion in daily life before the Reformation

    This comprehensive analysis sets the stage for understanding the complex factors leading to the English Reformation.

  • In this module, Professor Wrightson outlines the stages of the English Reformation, focusing on:

    • Legislative changes initiated by Henry VIII
    • The development of royal supremacy over the church
    • The roles of key figures at court and their influence on doctrine
    • The shifts in religious practices under Edward VI and Mary I

    This exploration highlights the complexities of religious change during this tumultuous period in English history.

  • Professor Wrightson analyzes economic and social problems in early modern England, discussing:

    • The interplay of rising prices and population
    • The impact of land enclosure on social dislocation
    • The voice of the Commonwealth's Men against poverty and vagrancy
    • Notable rebellions like the Pilgrimage of Grace and Kett's Rebellion

    This examination reveals the tensions arising from economic changes and their social consequences.

  • Professor Wrightson explores the Elizabethan settlement of religion, examining:

    • The Act of Uniformity and its implications
    • Responses to both Catholic and Puritan challenges
    • The gradual normalization of the Church of England
    • The historical context of religious conflict during Elizabeth's reign

    This module highlights the complexities and nuances of religious conformity and dissent in Elizabethan England.

  • In this module, Professor Wrightson addresses political participation during Elizabeth I's reign, focusing on:

    • The Queen's character and her interactions with advisors
    • Key foreign and domestic crises
    • Shifts in political culture and the role of institutions
    • Patrick Collinson's concept of a ''monarchical republic''

    This exploration underscores the evolving nature of governance and political engagement during this period.

  • Professor Wrightson traces economic expansion from 1560 to 1640, discussing:

    • Population growth and its impact on agriculture and industry
    • Trends in agricultural improvement and enclosure
    • Urban growth and the development of traditional and new industries
    • Intensified internal commerce and foreign trade

    This module presents an overview of the economic transformations and their implications for English society.

  • In this module, Professor Wrightson reviews the social consequences of economic changes between 1560 and 1640, focusing on:

    • The wealth increase for the gentry and land-holding classes
    • The growth of poverty and vagrancy
    • The emergence of the 'middling sort' in society
    • Government responses to rising poverty

    This examination reveals the polarization within society and its social dynamics during this period.

  • Witchcraft and Magic
    Keith Wrightson

    Professor Wrightson discusses witchcraft and magic beliefs in early modern England, focusing on:

    • The role of 'cunning folk' as healers
    • The identification of witchcraft by the church
    • Differences in witchcraft prosecution compared to Scotland and Europe
    • The social implications of witchcraft accusations

    This analysis sheds light on the cultural context surrounding witchcraft and its societal ramifications.

  • Crime and the Law
    Keith Wrightson

    In this module, Professor Wrightson explores crime and law in early modern England, focusing on:

    • Crimes of violence and property crime
    • Regional and social variations in violent crime
    • The prosecution process and legal responses
    • The balance between harsh punishment and mercy

    This examination highlights the complexities of law enforcement and societal perceptions of justice during this period.

  • Popular Protest
    John Merriman

    Professor Wrightson discusses popular protest in early modern England, examining:

    • Collective resistance to capitalism and state expansion
    • Examples such as grain riots and the figure of Captain Swing
    • The social contexts of these protests
    • The outcomes and repression of popular movements

    This module highlights the significance of collective action in shaping societal responses to economic changes.

  • Education and Literacy
    Keith Wrightson

    In this module, Professor Wrightson assesses the state of education and literacy in early modern England, discussing:

    • Influences of Renaissance humanism and the Reformation
    • Educational opportunities across social hierarchies
    • The establishment of grammar schools and universities
    • Literacy improvements and their cultural impacts

    This examination reveals the revolutionary changes in education and literacy and their far-reaching consequences.

  • Professor Wrightson reviews the conflicts within the Church of England in the early 17th century, focusing on:

    • The Jacobethan consensus and its strains
    • Local Puritan activism and its uneven success
    • The Arminian movement and its impact on religious polarization
    • Consequences for political tensions leading to civil wars

    This module outlines the significance of religious debates in shaping early modern English society.

  • In this module, Professor Wrightson reviews the events leading to the English Civil Wars, focusing on:

    • Tensions between the crown and the political nation
    • The role of the Duke of Buckingham
    • Parliament's growing dissatisfaction with royal policies
    • Key events leading to the outbreak of civil war

    This analysis provides insights into the political landscape and conflicts that culminated in civil war.

  • Professor Wrightson examines the major events of the English Civil Wars, focusing on:

    • The reemergence of Parliament and its role
    • Key battles and military strategies of both royalists and parliamentarians
    • The formation of the New Model Army
    • The eventual victory of parliamentary forces

    This module provides a detailed overview of the military and political developments during the civil wars.

  • In this module, Professor Wrightson explores the events leading to the execution of Charles I and the subsequent republican regimes, focusing on:

    • The attempts to negotiate a settlement after the civil war
    • Key events leading to Charles I's execution
    • Cromwell's role in the Commonwealth and the Protectorate
    • The political landscape post-Cromwell and the restoration of the monarchy

    This examination highlights the complexities of governance and political change during this tumultuous period.

  • Professor Wrightson discusses the Restoration era from 1660 to 1688, focusing on:

    • The Restoration settlement and its implications
    • Charles II's attempts to manage tensions with the political nation
    • James II's reign and the events leading to the Glorious Revolution
    • The role of William of Orange and the transition to constitutional monarchy

    This module provides insights into the major political developments and conflicts of the Restoration era.

  • In this final module, Professor Wrightson examines economic development from 1660 to 1720, focusing on:

    • Stable population and price contexts
    • Regional agricultural specialization and urbanization
    • Expansion of overseas trade and manufacturing industries
    • The emergence of a national market economy

    This exploration highlights England's growing role in the global economy during this period.

  • Professor Wrightson discusses the transformation of the English state following the Glorious Revolution, including:

    • The ambiguities of the Revolutionary Settlement
    • Strengthening of parliamentary government due to war demands
    • The Act of Settlement of 1701
    • The 1707 Act of Union and its outcomes

    This module provides insights into the complexities of state refashioning during this transformative period.

  • In this concluding lecture, Professor Wrightson reflects on the course's themes, discussing:

    • The nature of the historical process and its complexities
    • Key historiographical lessons
    • The importance of understanding history for contemporary society
    • Final thoughts and acknowledgments

    This module emphasizes the value of historical study in understanding our present context.