The Tudors

Colegiul National « SFANTUL SAVA »

ATESTAT PAPER PRESENTATION

THE TUDORS Candidate:

Chirita Alexandra Clasa a XII-aG

CONTENTS Page

• PREFACE...........................................................................3 • INTRODUCTION IN THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT..............5 • THE BIRTH OF THE NATION STATE “A NEW ARISE”...................................................................6 • INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS “ENGLAND AND HER NEIGHBOURS”..................................13 • GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY “THE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL

I.

PREFACE

In this paper I will focus on the importance of the Tudor period in England’s history trying to demonstrate why it is considered “The Golden Age”. The century of Tudor rule (1485-1603) is often thought as the most glorious period in English history. Henry VII built the foundations of a new wealthy nation state and of a powerful monarchy. His son, Henry VIII, although he wasted the wealth saved by his father, he kept a magnificent court and made the Church in England truly English by breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church. Also, he developed more powerful weapons that helped his country through wars. Elizabeth was the one who truly defined this period, “The Golden Age”. She brought glory to the new state by defeating the powerful Spanish Armada in 1588. This marked the arrival of England as a great European sea power, leading the way to the development of the empire over the next two centuries. It also marked the limits of Spain’s ability to recapture Protestant countries for the Catholic Church. Also, under Elizabeth, England experienced one of the greatest artistic periods in history.

II.

INTRODUCTION IN THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT In the first chapter, “ INTRODUCTION IN THE

HISTORICAL CONTEXT” I will set forth the external and the internal context that led to the setting up of the Tudor Dynasty on the throne of England. The War of Roses has been the starting point in the instauration of the Tudors, as Henry VII was the one who had end it by coming to throne as the new king. This is the start of a new period in English history.

III. THE BIRTH OF THE NATION STATE “A NEW ARISE” I will tackle three important moments in the second chapter called “ THE BIRTH OF THE NATION STATE” (“ A NEW ARISE”): first of all the instauration of a new type of monarchy that kept content all the social classes, than the Reformation that took part in the Church during Henry VIII’s reign and finally the struggle between Protestants and Catholics that took place during the years that followed the rupture with Rome.

III. THE BIRTH OF THE NATION STATE “A NEW ARISE” 1. The new monarchy .................................... 6 Henry VIII

Henry VII

2. The Reformation .........................................7

3. The Protestant-Catholic struggle ..............9

IV. INTERNATIONAL

RELATIONSHIPS “ENGLAND AND HER NEIGHBOURS”

The third chapter talks about the international relationships between England and her neighbours, starting with the new external policy carried on by the Tudor rulers and ending with the first Scottish King for England accepted both by the Parliament and the people.

IV. INTERNATIONAL

RELATIONSHIPS “ENGLAND AND HER NEIGHBOURS” 1. The new foreign policy .....................................13 2. The new trading empire ..................................14 3. Wales ............................................................. 15 4. Ireland ..........................................................17 5.

ELIZABETH and The new trading empire

Mary queen of scots

Edward VI

V. GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY

“THE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LIFE” The last chapter approaches the political and the social life during the Tudor rule - the rarely convoked Parliament and the poor people without home have been the problems of that period, but all that are overtaken by the development of the language

V. GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY

“THE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LIFE” 1. The Tudor Parliaments ......................21 2. Rich and poor in town and country ...23 3. Domestic life

Sir Edmund Spenser

Sir Philip Sidney

VI. CONCLUSION The purpose of this paper is to express my strong belief as well as the general belief that the Tudor period is one of true development in English history and flourishing from different points of view: economically, socially and culturally. By tackling the most important issues I tried to expose a neutral point of view about this period and to provide the reader the possibility of judging for oneself how positive or negative its influence in the history of Britain was. I believe that the Tudor period is the most important period because it shows the magnificent power of the English people of rising from the darkest mist of time and, like a wild rose isolated form the rest of the world, it was able to grow and to blossom like a true beauty and to spread its perfume all over the world. Bad or good, each ruler brought a very important contribution to the history of this great country, none of them are never to be forgotten by the English nor by the rest of the world for their commitment to their country, small in point of its surface, but big as a power overcoming time.

THE TUDORS Thank you for your attention!