La storia dell'Inghilterra dal XV al XVII secolo, Appunti di Inglese

Scarica La storia dell'Inghilterra dal XV al XVII secolo e più Appunti in PDF di Inglese solo su Docsity! HENRY VII After the wars of the roses, Henry VII became the first Tudor King. He introduced high taxes and banned the nobles from farming their own armies. He encouraged trade and spent a lot on shipbuilding, creating a merchant fleet. He organized a marriage between his heir, Arthur, with the princess of Spain Catherine of Aragon. Henry VII’s reign became strong and England progressed towards becoming a modern state. He had to protect himself from Yorkist plots. During his reign he sponsored John Cabot to explore eastern America. Erasmus of Rotterdam brought the Humanism of the Renaissance to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Thomas More, who wrote “Utopia” made England Closer to Protestantism. HENRY VIII Henry VIII came to the throne in 1509, he married his brother’s widow, Catherine of Aragon. Henry and Catherine had only a daughter, Mary. Henry wanted a male heir and when he fell in love with the young Anne Boleyn, he asked the Pope to divorce. Henry was considered the “defender of the faith” from the Pope, but when the Pope refused to declare his first marriage invalid, Henry broke with Rome and declared himself the “Supreme head of the Church” of England with the Act of Supremacy in 1534. This gave him the right to appoint bishops and impose his will. Temporal and religious power were thus joined in the figure of the monarch. Thomas Cromwell dissolved 400 monasteries and confiscated their lands and money. Henry divorced Catherine and married Anne Boleyn. She gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth. Anne later was accused and executed. Henry married Jane Seymour who finally gave him a male heir. EDWARD VI Edward was very young when he became king. During his reign religious services were held in English instead of Latin. With the Act of Uniformity Thomas Cranmer (Thomas Cranmer was the Archbishop of Canterbury)’s The “Book of Common Prayer” became obligatory.When he died of consumption, Mary, daughter of Catherine, became queen. MARY I Mary wanted to restore Catholicism in England. She married Philip II of Spain and England became an ally of Spain against France. Mary burnt over 300 protestant at the stake, this is why she was called Bloody Mary. When she fell ill her sister Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn, became queen. ELIZABETH I THE VIRGIN QUEEN Elizabeth’s reign is called “The golden age” because it was a period of stability, religious toleration and victory at sea. Elisabeth was 25 when she became Queen. She re-introduced the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Uniformity. She was tolerant with the other religions and she refused to marry. She decided to “rule and die a Virgin”, this is why she is called the “Virgin Queen”. She thought it would be dangerous to marry a foreign man because England could be subject to overseas rule and an English one could bring fractions and plots. THE ROYAL PROGRESS Elizabeth took regular tours around the country, known as the “royal progresses”. Elisabeth also ordered several self portraits that represented her power and the country's unity. EXPLORING THE SEA Elizabeth encouraged captaines to explore and look for treasure: ● Sir Walter Raleigh hunted for gold. ● Sir John Hawkins brought slaves to America. ● Sir Francis Drake attacked Spanish ships for gold. THE DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMADA Philip II of Spain attacked England to bring the rule of the Church of Rome. The English ships were faster and better equipped than the Spanish ships. The Spanish lost a third of their fleet and many men died. This victory showed England’s supremacy at sea. Elizabeth died in 1603. She had brought unity and glory to England. JAMES I When Elizabeth died, James I, King of Scotland, became the first Stuarts King of England. He was brought up as a Protestant. James believed that the King had a divine right and he was the representative of god on earth, for this reason he ignored Parliament. During his reign he joined England, Scotland and Wales forming Great Britain. He introduced a flag, called the Union Jack, and common coinage. GUNPOWDER PLOT James signed a Peace treaty with Spain. When James met the bishops and the Puritans, who were extreme Protestants, to solve the conflicts of them, led by Guy Fawkes, he organized the Gunpowder Plot. They wanted to blow up the Parliament when there was the King. The plot was found out and the plotters were executed. There was no persecution against the Catholics but an annual event, “Bonfire Night”, is celebrated every 5 November, with fireworks and figures representing Guy Fawkes are burnt on bonfires. Many dissenters emigrated and moved to America. CHARLES I When James I died, his son, Charles, became King. Like his father, he ignored Parliament. The Petition of Right stated that the king could not imprison or impose taxes without the consent of the Commons. The petition became the basis of civil rights. Charles dismissed it because he believed he was king by divine right. He imposed 'ship money', a tax on coastal towns, for their defense. When the King needed money to fight a rebellion in Scotland, he summoned the “short Parliament” who gave no money.(which lasted for a short time). A new Parliament was called the Long Parliament. Things had changed from the Tudor period: the Medieval Church and Aristocracy became a rising Middle Class of small land owners. The Middle Class of this periods wanted the King to be subject to Parliament and laws to reduce the King’s power. Charles raised an Army of Royalists, the Parliamentarians responded and a civil war broke out. THE TWO PARTIES Between 1642 and 1649 there were battles between the Royalists (the aristocrats supported the king) and the Parliamentarians or roundhead, supported by the middle class of merchants and Puritans. The Parliamentarians were stronger because they were professional soldiers.