Elizabethan England Topic Summaries

Growing prosperity and the rise of the gentry

GCSE > History > AQA > GCSE History: Elizabethan England (1558-1603) > Elizabethan life and culture > Growing prosperity and the rise of the gentry
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Key terms
  • The gentry, made up of landowners below the nobility, expanded in wealth and influence during Elizabeth’s reign.
  • Many gentry profited from the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII and the redistribution of land.
  • Increased agricultural productivity, the rise of commercial farming, and sheep farming for wool created wealth for landowners.
  • The gentry often served as Justices of the Peace and in other local administrative roles, increasing their political influence.
  • They built large country houses, such as Longleat House and Hardwick Hall, showcasing their sophistication.These were homes built for comfort and status, not survival or convenience.
  • The rise of a wealthy middling class of merchants and urban professionals added to social mobility, although the majority of the population remained poor.
  • Social mobility was limited but possible through marriage, education, or royal service.

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