The century of Tudor rule (1485-1603) is often thought of as a most
glorious period in English history. Henry VII built the foundations of a
wealthy nation state and a powerful monarchy! His son, Henry VIII, kept a
magnificent court, and made the Church in England truly English by breaking
away from the Roman Catholic Church. Finally, his daughter Elizabeth brought
glory to the new state by defeating the powerful navy of Spain, the greatest
European power of the time. During the Tudor age England experienced one of the
greatest artistic periods in its history.
There is, however, a less glorious view of the Tudor century. Henry VIII
wasted the wealth saved by his father. Elizabeth weakened the quality of
government by selling official posts. She did this to avoid asking Parliament
for money. And although her government tried to deal with the problem of poor
and homeless people at a time when prices rose much faster than wages, its laws
and actions were often cruel in effect.
