Social mobility in medieval England (late XIV - second half of the XV century): causes and new trends

The article highlights problems of social mobility in medieval England taking into account not only changes in the common socio-economic structures, but also changes in the society. The method of historical analysis was used. The main source of information was letters from the Paston family's personal archives. Using their example, the channels of social mobility are studied - state and military service, the War of the Roses, marriage and education, new economic trends that subsequently led to the Industrial Revolution. Changes in society associated with the transition of the wealthy peasantry to the gentry category are studied. An attempt is made to characterize new character traits that are valuable for the representatives of this group. Particular attention is paid to the description of new forms of business, such as commercial leasing, the organization of private enterprises, the analysis of market conditions that appeared in the XV century and led to the emergence of new economic relations in late medieval England, which has had a huge impact on the subsequent history of the country.