The Tudors (1485-1603)

How did Henry VII become king?

By defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

What conflict did Henry VII’s victory end?

The Wars of the Roses.

Which dynasty did Henry VII establish?

The Tudor dynasty.

How did Henry VII strengthen his claim to the throne?

By marrying Elizabeth of York, uniting the houses of Lancaster and York.

Key takeaway: What did Henry VII’s rise to power achieve?

It ended decades of civil war and established a stable royal dynasty.

What was Henry VII’s main political goal?

To consolidate royal power and reduce the influence of the nobility.

How did Henry VII improve the economy?

By encouraging trade and economic growth.

What cultural movement did Henry VII promote?

Renaissance humanism in education and culture.

Key takeaway: What defined Henry VII’s reign?

Political stability, stronger monarchy, and economic development.

Why did Henry VIII break from the Roman Catholic Church?

Because the Pope refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

What did the Act of Supremacy (1534) declare?

That Henry VIII was the Supreme Head of the Church of England.

What major religious change occurred under Henry VIII?

The English Reformation began with the break from Rome.

What happened to monasteries under Henry VIII?

They were dissolved, and their lands were redistributed.

What was introduced to replace the Latin Bible?

The English Bible.

What were the Six Articles (1539)?

A law reaffirming many traditional Catholic beliefs.

Key takeaway: What was the impact of Henry VIII’s religious reforms?

He began the English Reformation but kept many Catholic practices.

What major rebellion occurred in Ireland under Henry VIII?

The Silken Thomas revolt (1534).

What was the “Surrender and Regrant” policy?

Irish lords gave their land to the king and received it back as tenants.

What did the Laws in Wales Acts (1535–1542) do?

They fully integrated Wales into the English legal and administrative system.

Key takeaway: How did Henry VIII manage Ireland and Wales?

He tightened English control through legal and political integration.

How many wives did Henry VIII have?

Six.

Why did Henry marry six times?

To secure a male heir, form political alliances, and due to personal reasons.

What is the rhyme summarising Henry’s wives’ fates?

"Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived."

Who were Henry VIII’s six wives?

Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, Catherine Parr.

Key takeaway: How did Henry’s marriages affect England?

They influenced politics and the course of the English Reformation.

What did Elizabeth I aim to achieve with her religious reforms?

Stabilise the country after years of religious conflict.

What was the Elizabethan Religious Settlement (1559–1563)?

A compromise between Protestantism and Catholicism to avoid further division.

What did the Act of Supremacy (1559) do?

Made Elizabeth the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, reaffirming independence from Rome.

What did the Act of Uniformity (1559) introduce?

The reintroduction of the Book of Common Prayer to unify religious worship.

Key takeaway: What was the goal of Elizabeth’s religious policy?

To create a balanced, moderate system and prevent conflict.

What cultural movement flourished under Elizabeth I?

The English Renaissance.

Who were notable playwrights supported by Elizabeth?

William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.

How did the economy affect Elizabethan culture?

Economic growth supported the flourishing of arts and literature.

Key takeaway: What characterised Elizabeth’s cultural legacy?

A golden age of drama and national prosperity.

What major naval victory occurred in 1588?

England defeated the Spanish Armada.

What early colonial step did Elizabeth take in 1600?

Granted a charter to the East India Company.

What did the East India Company mark the beginning of?

The foundations of the British Empire.

What happened after Elizabeth’s death in 1603?

The Tudor dynasty ended, and the Stuart dynasty began.

Key takeaway: What was Elizabeth I’s international legacy?

She secured England’s global standing and began its path toward empire.