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