Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
1. Absolute Monarchy
2. Henry VII
3. Henry VIII
3.1 Problems with the Catholic Church
3.2 Henrys wives
3.3 The Reformation
4. Edward VI
5. Bloody Mary
6. Elizabeth I
6.1 Mary, the Queen of Scots
6.2 King Philip and Francis Drake
6.3 A Trading Empire
7.Tudor Parliaments
8. Renaissance
Bibliography : Yu. Golitsinski Great Britian p. 95-124; J. Grecu British Civilization p. 21-29
1. Absolute Monarchy
The Tudor period lasted from 1485 till 1603. The
16th century was the age of a growing absolutism of
monarchy and centralization of the state.
These phenomena facilitated the development and
foundation of new capitalist relations in production.
In historical development the rule of the Tudors
contributed to the strengthening of its absolute
power in international affairs. For the Tudors a
country which was Englands greatest trade rival
was also its greatest enemy. This idea remained
the basis of Englands foreign policy until the 19 th
century.
Henry VII
Henry VIII
3. Henry VIII
King Henry VIII was born in 1491. He was quite unlike his
father. He was cruel and wasteful with money. In 1509 he
married Catherine of Aragon. At that time Henry was a tall
and strong young man. He loved singing and reading and
writing. Henry went to church three or four times every
day. The Pope in Rome the most important man in the
Catholic church was very happy with him. Henry wanted a
son, the heir to the English throne. After 15 years Henry
and Catherine had one daughter, but no son. Henry asked
the Pope to allow him to divorce Catherine but the Pope
forbade him to do it.
4. Edward VI
Henry died in 1547, leaving three children.
Mary, the eldest, was the daughter of
Catherine of Aragon. Elizabeth was the
daughter of his second wife, Ann Boleyn.
Edward was the son of Jane Seymour, the
only wife whom Henry had really loved but
who had died giving birth to his only son.
Edward was a child of 9 years old when he
became king, so the country was ruled by a
council. The members of the council were
keen Protestant Reformers because they
had benefited from the sale of monastery
lands. Most English people still believed in
the old Catholic religion. In 1552 a new
prayer book was introduced to make sure
that all churches followed the new
Protestant religion. Edward died in 1553
when he was 16 years old.
5. Bloody Mary
After Edwards death Mary, the
Catholic daughter of Catherine
of Aragon, became queen of
England. Mary was unwise and
made mistakes in her policy. She
married King Philip II of Spain,
but it was a bad choice. The
English people were afraid that
this marriage would place
England under foreign control.
Then Mary began burning
Protestants. Three hundred
people died in this way during
her five-year reign. For these
executions she was called
Bloody Mary.
6.Elizabeth I
When Mary died in 1558, her sister Elizabeth
became Queen of England and Wales and ruled
for forty-five years, but she had no husband
and no children. In order to make England
prosperous country Elizabeth brought together
two parts of English society (Catholic and
Protestant), which were in disagreement. The
Church was still under her authority. The
parish, the area served by one church, became
the unit of state administration. People had to
go to church on Sundays by Law and they were
fined if they stayed away. Elizabeth also
introduced a book of sermons to be used in
church. This book taught the people that
rebellion against the Crown was a sin against
God. The policy of Elizabeth I was one of
compromise and settlement. In foreign affairs
she continued the work of Henry VII
encouraging the expansion of the English trade.
Trading Empire
Tudor Parliaments
7. Tudor Parliaments
The Tudor monarchs didnt like governing through parliament. Henry
VII used Parliament only for introducing new laws. Henry VII used it
to raise money for war and for his struggle with Rome. But the Tudor
monarchs didnt get rid of Parliament, because they needed the
support of the merchants, whose representatives sat in Parliament.
During the 16th century real power in Parliament moved from the
House of Lords to the house of Commons, because the members of
the House of Commons represented richer and more influential
classes. The monarchy used its influence to make Parliament support
royal policy. In order to control discussion in Parliament, the Crown
appointed a Speaker. The growing authority of Parliament led to the
question about the limits of its power. By the end of the 16 th century,
when the gentry and merchant classes realized their strength, it was
obvious that sooner or later Parliament would challenge the Crown.
Renaissance
in England
8. Renaissance in England
Renaissance was the period in Europe between the 14th and 17th
centuries, when people became interested in the art, literature and
ideas of ancient Greece. This interest caused the appearance of
outstanding thinkers, scientists, artists and writers.
England felt the effects of the Renaissance later than much of
Europe because it was an island. In the 16th century English thinkers
became interested in the work of the Dutch philosopher Erasmus. One
of them, Thomas More, wrote a book in which he described an ideal
nation. The book was called Utopia. It was very popular throughout
Europe. The Renaissance also influenced religion, music, painting and
literature. In literature such names as Christopher Marlowe, Ben
Jonson, Edmund Spenser and William Shakespeare were very popular.
But the most famous of them is William Shakespeare. He was born on
the 23 of April 1564; died 23 April 1616. He was an English poet and
playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English
language. Shakespeare was born and brought up in Stratford-uponAvon. Shakespeares popularity has not died down until our time. His
plays are still staged in many theatres throughout the world.
The Conclusion:
Elizabethan Age was one of the
greatest periods of English
literature, painting and music.
Elizabeths court became a
centre of culture in England.
The English were proud of their
country and their queen.