A-level History₇₀₄₂

This option allows students to study in breadth issues of change, continuity, cause and consequence in this period through the following key questions:

• How effectively did the Tudors restore and develop the powers of the monarchy?
• In what ways and how effectively was England governed during this period?
• How did relations with foreign powers change and how was the succession secured?
• How did English society and economy change and with what effects?
• How far did intellectual and religious ideas change and develop and with what effects?
• How important was the role of key individuals and groups and how were they affected by developments?

Part one: consolidation of the Tudor Dynasty: England, 1485–1547

Henry VIII, 1485–1509

• Henry Tudor’s consolidation of power: character and aims; establishing the Tudor dynasty
• Government: councils, parliament, justice, royal finance, domestic policies
• Relationships with Scotland and other foreign powers; securing the succession; marriage alliances
• Society: churchmen, nobles and commoners; regional division; social discontent and rebellions
• Economic development: trade, exploration, prosperity and depression
• Religion; humanism; arts and learning

Henry VIII, 1509–1547

• Henry VIII: character and aims; addressing Henry VII’s legacy
• Government: Crown and Parliament, ministers, domestic policies including the establishment of Royal Supremacy
• Relationships with Scotland and other foreign powers; securing the succession
• Society: elites and commoners; regional issues and the social impact of religious upheaval; rebellion
• Economic development: trade, exploration, prosperity and depression
• Religion: renaissance ideas; reform of the Church; continuity and change by 1547

Part two: England: turmoil and triumph, 1547–1603 (A-level only)

Instability and consolidation: 'the Mid-Tudor Crisis', 1547–1563 (A-level only)

• Edward VI, Somerset and Northumberland; royal authority; problems of succession; relations with foreign powers
• The social impact of religious and economic changes under Edward VI; rebellion; intellectual developments; humanist and religious thought
• Mary I and her ministers; royal authority; problems of succession; relations with foreign powers
• The social impact of religious and economic changes under Mary I; rebellion; intellectual developments; humanist and religious thought
• Elizabeth I: character and aims; consolidation of power, including the Elizabethan Settlement and relations with foreign powers
• The impact of economic, social and religious developments in the early years of Elizabeth's rule

The triumph of Elizabeth, 1563–1603 (A-level only)

• Elizabethan government: court, ministers and parliament; factional rivalries
• Foreign affairs: issues of succession; Mary, Queen of Scots; relations with Spain
• Society: continuity and change; problems in the regions; social discontent and rebellions
• Economic development: trade, exploration and colonisation; prosperity and depression
• Religious developments, change and continuity; the English renaissance and ‘the Golden Age’ of art, literature and music
• The last years of Elizabeth: the state of England politically, economically, religiously and socially by 1603