Exploring The Economical Level And Living Conditions Of English Common People In The Later Middle Ages

The issue on the transition from traditional agriculture society to capitalism in England is one of the important focuses in history study, and appropriately evaluating the economical level and social conditions of English common people in later Middle Ages is of important significance. Therefore, this paper aims at probing it from two aspects, which are the economical situation in England and the every day life of English common people in later Middle Ages. The conclusion can be drawn that the economical level of English common people in later Middle Ages is rather low and the every day life of the common people is still very difficult, existing widespread beggarliness. In a word, the personal power of English common people has no what to increase. In addition to the introduction and the conclusion, this paper is divided into two parts.The first part intends to estimate the economical level of England in the later Middle Ages, particularly stresses on the late fourteenth and fifteenth century from macroscopic point of view. This part consists of four chapters. The first chapter is on the agricultural crisis and depression in England, whichis demonstrated by the sharp and long time decrease of population, the decline of agricultural yield, the deterioration of soil and the reduction of farmland, the recession of livestock husbandry as well as the drop of agricultural product price. The issue of farmers' economical burden takes the second chapter, and the issue of the lost of economical dynamic of the common people comes to the third chapter. The fourth chapter is on the agriculture and the common people' s livelihood, which are caused by disasters such as wars, famines and plagues. In conclusion, the life of English common people is getting harder while the economic is stagnant, even getting worsen in some aspects in this period.The second part intends to investigate into the every day life of the common people in the later Middle Ages from microcosmic point of view, which is a key for evaluating the economical level. Food, house, cloth and hygiene and medicine are important contents of every day life, and they can reflect the living standard of the common people and the social economical level. This part is also divided into four chapters. Chapter one is on the diet and food hygiene of the common people. Chapter two is on the housing of the common people including the house structure, facilities and hygiene, crowded and dirty city housing. Chapter...