Great photos !
I'd love to find out if anyone has done a study on the economic impact of Henry VIII's closure of the monasteries. On the one side you've got the cash and resources taken from them, most of which went to the exchequer and some of Henry's select mates. But what is often glossed over is the way that the monasteries were the industrial hubs of the age. They weren't just centres of production in their own right, they also co-ordinated the activities of farmers and cottage industries in a wide area. When that stopped, what was the impact on local producers both of the monasteries going and whoever stepped in to fill their niche ? Did overall economic activity decrease for a while or was it a smooth transition ? It would be interesting to really dig into the records !
I've no real idea about the economics of the time, but as I said in another comment it was a very unequal society. A farmer could have a bad year and starve whilst the rich still demanded their tithes/taxes/whatever. The church had to be rich to build stuff like the abbey. Closing the abbeys would have disrupted the local economies for sure and I expect friends of the king profited from it.
Are we heading for similar things with the tech billionaires hoarding wealth and jobs at risk from AI? This could also bring big changes.
I reckon you're right. Wealth disparity is now at the same level as during the feudal era, and it is the middle classes being squeezed out to leave a duality of tech-feudal barons (robber barons ?) and poverty-level peasants. The 15-minute city idea is a shockingly close mirror to the feudal law which meant serfs could only leave their village if their lord gave permission. Perhaps it's time for a new jacquerie ! 😈
I'd say there's a lot of crap talked about 15 minute cities. I don't think anyone pushing it said it would limit us, but most of us would welcome more local facilities. I would happily drive less and I'm lucky I can walk to the station to get a train to work, but there is not much else in the village.