Category: History of British dynasties

By Tim Lambert Technology in the 16th Century In the 16th century guns transformed warfare. Early guns were lit by a slow match (string was soaked in saltpeter and when it was lit it smoldered). The slow match was touched to the gunpowder to ignite it. However, in the early 16th century, the wheelock was… Continue reading 16th and 17th Century Technology

By Tim Lambert In Tudor times life expectancy was short. Perhaps 25% of children died before they were 5 and as many as 40% died before the age of 16. If you lived to be an adult you would probably live to your 50s or early 60s. However, only a small minority lived to be… Continue reading 16th Century Funerals

By Tim Lambert If we visited Portsmouth in the 16th century we would probably be surprised by its small size. Most of Portsea Island was covered in farmland or wasteland. In the Southwest of the island was a little walled town. In 1500 it probably had a population of 1,500 or less. By 1550 it… Continue reading 16th Century Portsmouth

By Tim Lambert England in the Early 17th Century In 1603 King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England. He began a new dynasty – the Stuarts. James I never had the same charisma as Elizabeth I and never enjoyed the same popularity. However, among his achievements, he ended the long war… Continue reading A History of 17th Century England

By Tim Lambert At the beginning of the 16th century, Henry VII was keen to ally with Spain. In 1501 his oldest son Arthur married Catherine of Aragon. However, Arthur died in April 1502. Henry VII’s son Henry now became heir to the throne. Henry married Catherine of Aragon, his brother’s widow on 11 June… Continue reading A History of England in the 16th century

By Tim Lambert In the 16th century, about half the population lived at subsistence (bare survival) level. Life for them was hard and rough. During the 16th century, there was inflation, especially in the mid-century, and prices rose steeply. Wages rose too but less than prices so real earnings fell. They reached their lowest point in 1597.… Continue reading Poor Tudors

By Tim Lambert In the 16th century, prison was seldom used as a punishment. Instead, people were held in prison until trial then some physical punishment was meted out. In the 16th century, minor crimes were often punished by the pillory or the stocks. The pillory was a wooden frame on a pole with holes… Continue reading Punishments in the 16th Century

By Tim Lambert Houses of the Rich In the Middle Ages, rich people’s houses were designed for defence rather than comfort. In the 16th century, life was safer so houses no longer had to be easy to defend. It was an age when rich people built grand houses e.g. Cardinal Wolsey built Hampton Court Palace.… Continue reading Rich Tudors

By Tim Lambert In 1501 Arthur the oldest son of King Henry VII married Catherine of Aragon. However, Arthur died in April 1502. Henry VII’s son Henry now became heir to the throne. Henry married Catherine of Aragon, his brother’s widow in 1509. Normally such a marriage would not have been allowed but the Pope… Continue reading The Reformation in England