Tudor England

2009 is the 500th anniversary of the coronation of King Henry VIII of England, one of the most famous, or perhaps infamous, kings in all history. The Tudors oversaw the transition of England from a small, isolated kingdom in the middle ages into a major power in the modern world, and one of the architects of the world we now live in. Thanks to Hollywood, we have a plethora of images of the splendor and the scandal of the Tudor world, from the Six Wives of Henry VIII to the Golden Age of Elizabeth. This course will explore the reality behind those images, and examine how the Tudors guided England from the middle ages into the modern world. We will look at England's place in the world of European politics during the 15th and 16th centuries. The course will also examine some of the fascinating personalities of the Tudor era. Not only the monarchs, though they are of course central to an understanding of the period, but their families, trusted advisors, and opponents as well. We will also examine the Protestant Reformation as it developed in England, since that is central to the development of England through these years.

Prerequisites

No previous coursework is required

Recommended background

Some basic familiarity with European history of the 15th and 16th centuries would be helpful, but not necessary.

Textbooks and Materials

This item is required:

Tudor England , Authors: John Guy

ISBN: 0192852132

Best sources: Scholars Online Bookstore

Other information: Any edition of this book is acceptable, and used paperbacks are available. Students will be assigned selections from the book; reading the book in its entirety is optional.

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