Early modern Britain
Henry VII landed on English soil in 1485 after his victory at the battle of Bosworth Field. This event marked the end of the Wars of the Roses and the beginning of a new era for the island. The conflict had claimed an estimated 105,000 dead over decades of civil war. Henry VII's largely peaceful reign brought stability needed for art and commerce to thrive. A major war on English soil would not occur again until the English Civil War of the 17th century.
During this period Henry VII and his son Henry VIII greatly increased the power of the English monarchy. New technologies like gunpowder undermined the power of the feudal nobility. Henry VIII used the Protestant Reformation to seize the power of the Roman Catholic Church. He confiscated the property of the monasteries and declared himself the head of the new Anglican Church. Under the Tudors, the English state was centralized as a bureaucracy built up by educated functionaries. The most notable new institution was the Star Chamber.
Queen Elizabeth I began her reign in 1558 during what is known as the Elizabethan Era. It was the height of the English Renaissance and saw the flowering of English literature and poetry. William Shakespeare composed plays that broke away from England's past style of theatre. This age also witnessed expansion and exploration abroad while the Protestant Reformation became entrenched at home.
The one great rival was Spain with which England conflicted both in Europe and the Americas. Skirmishes exploded into the Anglo-Spanish War between 1585 and 1604. The conflict might be said to be the first world war fought on two continents and two oceans. England had a centralised government largely a result of reforms by Henry VII and Henry VIII. Economically the country benefited greatly from the new era of trans-Atlantic trade.
Scotland advanced markedly in educational terms during the 15th century with the founding of the University of St Andrews in 1413. James III married Margaret of Denmark in 1468 receiving the Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands as payment for her dowry. James IV successfully ended quasi-independent rule of the Lord of the Isles bringing Western Isles under effective Royal control for the first time. He married Henry VII's daughter Margaret Tudor in 1503 laying foundation for the 17th century Union of the Crowns.
Mary Queen of Scots lost control of Scotland after seven years and was imprisoned in Lochleven Castle before being forced to abdicate. She eventually escaped and attempted to regain the throne by force but was defeated at the Battle of Langside in 1568. In England she became a focal point for Catholic conspirators and was executed on orders of Elizabeth I. The Protestant Reformation followed a brief civil war in 1559, 60 where English intervention at the siege of Leith proved decisive. A Reformed confession of faith was adopted by Parliament in 1560 while Mary remained in France.
The English Civil War consisted of armed conflicts between Parliamentarians known as Roundheads and Royalists known as Cavaliers between 1642 and 1651. The first war pitted supporters of King Charles I against supporters of the Long Parliament. The third war saw fighting between supporters of King Charles II and supporters of the Rump Parliament. The Civil War ended with Parliamentary victory at the Battle of Worcester on the 3rd of September 1651.
The English Interregnum began with regicide of Charles I in 1649 and ended with restoration of Charles II in 1660. Oliver Cromwell ruled under the Protectorate from 1653 until his death. His son took over but proved weak ruler with very little support. Military and religious elements that supported Cromwell began disputing with each other. The Diggers were group begun by Gerrard Winstanley in 1649 who attempted to reform existing social order with agrarian lifestyle based upon their ideas for creation of small egalitarian rural communities.
Charles II landed at Dover amid great enthusiasm on the 26th of May 1660 after issuing Declaration of Breda promising generosity. Elite and popular opinion called for restoration of monarchy under Stuarts following widespread revulsion against intense moralism and high taxes of Rule of Major-Generals in 1657. New parliament known as Cavalier Parliament enacted Clarendon Code designed to shore up position of re-established Church of England. Strict rules set up such that only genuine members of established Church could hold office.
When Charles II died in 1685 his brother became King James II who ruled with support of Tory party. He forced series of highly unpopular proposals that would restore Catholicism to England. Monmouth Rebellion broke out in western areas that was brutally suppressed. In late 1688 elites invited William III and Mary II to govern. James went into exile in France where his claims to English throne promoted by Louis XIV. Constitutionally Glorious Revolution established precedent that British monarchs could not govern without consent of Parliament.
By the 1720s Britain was one of most prosperous countries in world according to Daniel Defoe who boasted about vast trade rich manufactures and mighty wealth. London government enhanced private sector by incorporating numerous privately financed London-based companies for establishing trading posts across world. First enterprise was Muscovy Company set up in 1555 to trade with Russia. Other prominent enterprises included East India Company and Hudson's Bay Company in Canada.
Company of Royal Adventurers Trading to Africa had been set up in 1662 to trade in gold ivory and slaves in Africa. It reestablished as Royal African Company in 1662 focusing on slave trade. British involvement in triangular slave trade paid off handsomely in terms of profits. Even loss of 13 colonies made up by very favorable trading relationship with new United States of America. British gained dominance in trade with India and largely dominated highly lucrative slave sugar and commercial trades originating in West Africa and West Indies.
From 1700 to 1850 Britain involved in 137 wars or rebellions apart from losing American Revolutionary War. France and Spain went bankrupt while Britain maintained relatively large and expensive Royal Navy along with small standing army. When need arose for soldiers it hired mercenaries or financed allies who fielded armies. Rising costs of warfare forced shift in government financing from income from royal agricultural estates to reliance on customs and excise taxes and after 1790 an income tax.
Working with bankers in City government raised large loans during wartime and paid them off in peacetime. Rise in taxes amounted to 20% of national income but private sector benefited from increase in economic growth. Demand for war supplies stimulated industrial sector particularly naval supplies munitions and textiles which gave Britain advantage in international trade during postwar years. The Seven Years' War began in 1756 as first war waged on global scale fought in Europe India North America Caribbean Philippines and coastal Africa.
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Common questions
When did Henry VII land on English soil after the battle of Bosworth Field?
Henry VII landed on English soil in 1485 after his victory at the battle of Bosworth Field. This event marked the end of the Wars of the Roses and the beginning of a new era for the island.
What was the outcome of the Battle of Langside involving Mary Queen of Scots?
Mary Queen of Scots was defeated at the Battle of Langside in 1568 while attempting to regain the throne by force. She had escaped from imprisonment in Lochleven Castle but failed to restore her power before being executed on orders of Elizabeth I.
On what date did Charles II land at Dover during the Restoration period?
Charles II landed at Dover amid great enthusiasm on the 26th of May 1660 after issuing Declaration of Breda promising generosity. Elite and popular opinion called for restoration of monarchy under Stuarts following widespread revulsion against intense moralism and high taxes of Rule of Major-Generals in 1657.
Which year did the Seven Years War begin as the first war waged on global scale?
The Seven Years' War began in 1756 as first war waged on global scale fought in Europe India North America Caribbean Philippines and coastal Africa. Britain maintained relatively large and expensive Royal Navy along with small standing army while France and Spain went bankrupt.
When was the University of St Andrews founded in Scotland?
Scotland advanced markedly in educational terms during the 15th century with the founding of the University of St Andrews in 1413. James III married Margaret of Denmark in 1468 receiving the Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands as payment for her dowry.