Renaissance – is a French word that means “rebirth” or renewal The Renaissance began in Italy Marked the link into the modern world from the Middle Ages
Accession of Henry VII inaugurates the Tudor dynasty and also marks the beginning of the Renaissance period The family name derives from Owen Tudor. Although he had no direct claim to the throne he married Catherine of Valois (widow of King Henry V) His grandson was Henry VII
Interest in humans Introduction of Universities The movable print Age of exploration Reformation
Markets expanded significantly International trade flourished The population expanded – from 60,000 in 1520 to 120,000 in 1550
The art of printing from moveable metal type, a German invention, had been introduced to England by William Caxton Printing made books cheaper and more plentiful, providing more opportunity to read and more incentive to learn
Officially, in the early 16 th century England had one religion – Catholicism The head of the church was the pope in Rome A vast system of confessions, pardons, penance, absolution, indulgences, sacred relics, and ceremonies gave church great power
The court was the center of culture Fashions in dress, speech, painting, music, poetry shaped the taste and imagination of the country as a whole In the Tudor era the route to power lay in proximity to the royal body. (groom of the stool)
Married Catherine of Aragon Died unexpectedly Catherine of Aragon married his younger brother Henry VIII
Married six times It is easiest to remember using this device: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived Declared himself the head of the English church in 1534 He produced three children all together – Mary, Elizabeth, and Edward VI Edward died when he was only 15
Became king in 1547 at the age of 10 Died in 1553 – only six years after his accession Both the ten year-old Edward and his staunch successive Protectors were Protestants
Mary was devout Catholic Persecution of protestants led her to receive the name “Bloody Mary” When Mary died of what modern researches would have called an ovarian cyst Elizabeth took the throne
Reigned for 45 years Considered the “Golden Years” She never married Was very well educated – she spoke six languages