Economic development: trade, exploration, prosperity and depression
Between 1485 and 1547, England's economy shifted dramatically. The crown actively shaped trade, funded exploration, and faced both periods of real prosperity and serious economic hardship.
Real World
The Magnus Intercursus (1496) secured English cloth merchants preferential access to Antwerp's markets — the equivalent of a modern free-trade deal that boosted Crown customs revenue and tied England into Europe's commercial network.
Exam Focus
When assessing economic change, distinguish between Henry VII's deliberate trade policy and factors outside royal control, such as harvest failures or Antwerp's market fluctuations.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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