The Significance of Social, Cultural and Economic Change

The Significance of Social, Cultural and Economic Change

Social Change

  • The Gentry class became increasingly anglicised after the English conquest, adopting many facets of English culture and even intermarrying with English nobility.
  • The period saw a social stratification with the emergence of an English-controlled upper class, consisting of the English and anglicised Welsh, and a lower class of native Welsh.
  • The imposition of English laws and administrative structures altered the power balance in Welsh society, marginalising the local lords and traditional authorities.
  • The Statute of Rhuddlan, issued by Edward I in 1284, established English rule, curtailed Welsh rights, and imposed feudal law, deeply impacting Welsh society.

Cultural Change

  • A mix of assimilation and resistance defined Welsh cultural changes during this period. The upper classes adopted English customs, while the lower class clung to Welsh tradition.
  • The survival of Welsh language was significant as a symbol of cultural resilience, in spite of the heavy dominance of English language and culture.
  • There was a decline in the bardic tradition, a key part of Welsh culture, primarily due to the decreased patronage by the disempowered Welsh nobility.
  • Institution of English religious orders and abbeys undermined Welsh monastic traditions.

Economic Changes

  • Post-conquest, the Welsh economy was integrated with English and wider European economic systems, marking a shift from an agrarian to market-based economy.
  • English landowners who held feudal lordships monopolized key resources, exploiting the Welsh majority and controlling trade.
  • Industries like mining and sheep farming developed under English control, shifting the economic focus away from agriculture.
  • The establishment of English-style towns and boroughs altered the rural character of the Welsh economy, providing new centres for commerce and trade.

Significance of these Changes

  • Collectively, the social, cultural, and economic changes led to the dominance of English language, law, and governance structures in Wales, effectively assuring English control over Wales.
  • However, these changes also sparked a sense of nationalism among the Welsh, fostering an environment for rebellion and resistance against the English rule.