THE RENAISSANCE PERIOD1485-1660

HISTORICAL CONTEXT 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

HISTORICAL CONTEXT 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

WHAT MADE THE RENAISSANCE? Interest in humans Introduction of Universities The movable print Age of exploration Reformation

THE CITY Markets expanded significantly International trade flourished The population expanded – from 60,000

in 1520 to 120,000 in 1550

LITERACY 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

THE CHURCH Officially, in the early 16th 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

CULTURE 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)

CLOTHING

THE TUDOR DYNASTY

HENRY VII Married Catherine

of Aragon Died

unexpectedly Catherine of

Aragon married his younger brother Henry VIII

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

EDWARD VI 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 TUDOR 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

ELIZABETH I – THE LAST OF THE TUDORS

Reigned for 45 years

Considered the “Golden Years”

She never married Was very well

educated – she spoke six languages