Economic activity of European immigrants in England in the second half of the 16th – early 17th centuries 

Vladimir P. Mitrofanov, Doctor of historical sciences, professor, professor of the sub-department of general history and social science, Penza State University (40 Krasnaya street, Penza, Russia), E-mail: vm@em-england.ru 

Background. The problem of emigration in Europe during the early modern peri-od has not been sufficiently studied in both domestic and foreign historiography. The article notes the degree of her study of the problem of immigrants in England during the Tudor and the first Stuarts. The author examines the process of settling European immigrants in the cities and counties of the English kingdom. Their entrepreneurial activity in a number of regions of the English kingdom and the attitude towards it from the side of central and local authorities are noted. Materials and methods. Observing the principle of historicism, using the method of analysis and synthesis, using the local research method, the author of the article analyzes the material of various written sources. Results. The calendars of state pa-pers of the internal series, as well as some other documentary and narrative sources, as well as the factual material of special studies of domestic and English-speaking historians, which testify to the economic activity of immigrants from continental Europe, are analyzed. Some quantitative data of the settlement of European emigrants in the cities and counties of the country and the types of their business activities are noted. Conclusions. International situa-tion and foreign policy of the English absolute monarchy in the second half of the 16th – mid 17th centuries contributed to the influx of emigrants from continental Europe to Eng-land. By confessional affiliation, they were Protestants who left their homeland due to reli-gious persecution. The policy of Elizabeth I Tudor, James I Stuart and Charles I Stuart to-wards them was not rigidly conditioned by religious motives. By professional composition, the settlers were artisans, manufacturers, merchants. Their settlement in a number of remote areas (for example, in Yorkshire) laid the foundation for the industrial rise of these regions in the early modern period. With their business activity and innovative ideas in certain types of handicraft production, they had a positive impact on the English economy and made a certain contribution to Englandʼs progress towards capitalism. 

immigrants, Protestants, England, entrepreneurship, petitions, central and local government, handicrafts, manufacture, trade 

Mitrofanov V.P. Economic activity of European immigrants in England in the second half of the 16th – early 17th centuries. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedeniy. Povolzhskiy region. Gumanitarnye nauki = University proceedings. Volga region. Humanities. 2022;(2):103–114. (In Russ.). doi:10.21685/2072-3024-2022-2-8