Krantz
English 4600
History List
A HISTORICAL OUTLINE FOR TUDOR ENGLAND

This is a period of highly significant historical transformation in British and European history. When the civil 'War of the Roses' ended in 1485 with the violent death on Bosworth Field of the enigmatic Richard III, the Welsh Tudor family built up a powerful nation-state whose history is rich in the complexities of political power and religion and the paradoxes of social structures. It includes Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, the Tudor revolution in government, the Protestant Reformation, the Anglican Church, Catholic priests in hiding. We investigate the anatomy of political transformations in centralized government, constitutional definitions of parliamentary authority and civil liberties.

Historical Outline
1455-85 The War of the Roses

1485 The Defeat of Richard III of York, king of England by Henry of Lancaster who became Henry VII. Death of Richard

1492 Christopher Columbus Discovers the West Indies

1497 John Cabot reaches Nova Scotia, North America.

1508-53 Henry VIII, son of Henry VII, becomes King of England

1520 The Field Of the Cloth of Gold
In 1520 a grand meeting was arranged between Henry VIII and Francis I, king of France,to make peace. It took place near Calais, and was called "The Field of the Cloth of Gold"because of all the rich materials used for the tents and decorations. Both kings were in competition to look the best and have the best things. They became friends for three years but later were at war again.

1533 The Break With the Roman Church
Henry wanted to divorce his Spanish wife, Catherine of Aragon, and marry Anne Boleyn.So he sent Wolsey to Rome to ask the pope for permission. The pope said no because he didn't want to upset Charles V of Spain. This made Henry angry he divorced Catherine anyway and made himself the head of the Church of England breaking off all connectionsto Rome.

1539 The dissolution of the monasteries
Henry was bankrupt and needed to find money. He ordered Thomas Cromwell to shutdown all of the monasteries and take their land and wealth. Parliament passed an act"dissolving" or getting rid of the monasteries. They sent the priests away, seized themoney and treasures and destroyed the buildings.

1547-53 Edward VI
When Henry died in 1547 his nine year old son became king of England.

1553-58 Mary I, Queen of England
Mary I was a Catholic, the daughter of Henry and Catherine, and she tried to bring back the Catholic religion, but she died in1558.

1558-1603 Elizabeth I
During the reign of Elizabeth England became greater than it had ever been before.

1580 Drake's voyage
Sir Francis Drake
completes his voyage around the world in the Golden Hind.

1587 Execution of Mary Queen of Scots
Mary Stuart was a cousin to Elizabeth and a rival to the throne. Mary was queen of Scotland and catholics thought she should be queen of England as well. There was a rebellion in Scotland in 1567 and Mary fled to England. She became the centre of attempts to kill Elizabeth. Elizabeth imprisoned her in England. A letter was found that was about a plot to kill Elizabeth and make Mary queen. Mary was found guilty of treason and executed at Fotheringay Castle in February 1587.

1588 The Spanish Armada
England defeats a great Spanish fleet and prevents an invasion.