A History of England from the Tudors to the Stuarts

by Robert O. Bucholz

During the 229-year period from 1485 to 1714, England transformed itself from a minor feudal state into what has been called "the first modern society," and emerged as the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world. Those years hold a huge story.

The English people survived repeated epidemics and famines, one failed invasion and two successful ones, two civil wars, a series of violent religious reformations and counter-reformations, and confrontations with two of the most powerful monarchs on Earth, Louis XIV of France and Philip II of Spain.

But they did much more than survive. They produced a marvelous culture that gave the world the philosophy of John Locke, the plays of Shakespeare, the wit of Swift, the poetry of Milton, the buildings of Christopher Wren, the science of Isaac Newton, and the verse of the King James Bible.

And despite the cruelty, bloodshed, and religious suppression they visited on so many, they also left behind something else: the political principles and ideals for which we—and so many of them—would work and die, and on which we Americans would build our nation.

Professor Robert Bucholz presents a sweeping, 48-lecture course on one of the most intriguing times in modern history.

Professor Bucholz—whose work has been solicited and commented upon by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales—is a noted expert on the English court and royal household, and a frequent media commentator on British history and the Royal Family.

AudioFile magazine comments: "Professor Bucholz intertwines descriptions of court intrigue with portrayals of its effects on those governed, from the merchant to the tenant farmer to the beggar. Bucholz's lecturing style engages his students in the realities of the time with empathy, data, and humor. … The listener will find no dry history here, but a colorful album of real peoples' memories."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Historical, British Literature, Medieval, World History

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Robert O. Bucholz (D. Phil., University of Oxford, 1988; A.B. Cornell University, 1980) is a professor of history at Loyola University Chicago, where he teaches courses on the history of early modern Great Britain, the city of London and Western Civilization.

Reviews

[Melindam · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Ed West's ironically funny, exposé-like works on the 100-year wars and the war of the Roses, I wanted to get get into these and the following periods in more details.

Robert O. Bucholz series of lectures was just the ticket. It is also currently included for free in my Audible plus catalogue.

Over 24 hours, it was extensive and detailed, but never dry or boring. The lectures are easy to follow. They cover the period from 1485 (the start of the reign of Henry VII ) to 1714 (death of Queen Anne).

Every topic is examined from top to bottom and vice versa. We are told about the social/historical/religious/economic and cultural structure of every time period (every king's/queen's reign) and not only from the POV of the royal heads, but from all tiers of society.

What I appreciated the most is that Bucholz as a historian uses the benefit of hindsight in interpreting/examining the chains of events, but also always presents them in their proper context: with the mindset of people of their time. He never fails to remind us that we should never disregard the context!

Besides the reign of monarchs, there are always "extra" lectures about how their reign affected every aspect of people's lives from the poor people to the aristocrats and in-between.

He offers us balanced portraits of "good" and "bad" deeds and once again, always in context.

Much recommended

[Bettie · Rating 5 out of 5]

48 x 30 min lectures

14: Edward VI: 1547-1553
15: Mary I 1553-1558
16: Young Elizabeth 1558
17: The Elizabethan Settlement 1558-1568
18: Set in a dangerous World 1568-1588
19: Heart and Stomach of the Queen 1588-1603
20: The Land and It's People in 1603
21: Private Lives - the elite
22: Private Lives - the commoners
23: The Ties that Bound
24: Order and Disorder
25: Towns, Trade and Colonisation
26: London
27: The Elizabethan and Jacobean Era
28: Establishing the Stuart Dynasty
29: The Ascendancy of Buckingham 1614-28
30: Religion and Local Control
31: Crisis of the three nations 1637-42
32: The Civil Wars 1642-49
33: The search for a settlement 1649-53
34: Cromwellian England 1653-60
35: The Restoration 1660-70
36: The Failure 1670-78
37: The Popish Plot 1678-85
38: Catholic Restoration 1685-88
39: The Glorious Revolution
40: King William's war 1689-92
41: King William's war 1692-1702
42: Queen Anne
43: Queen Anne's War
44: Queen Anne's Peace
45: Hanoverian Epilogue
46: The Land and It's People
47: The Land and It's People
48: The Meaning of English History




NONFIC NOVEMBER 2015:

CR White Mughals
5* A History of England from the Tudors to the Stuarts
3* Rome and the Barbarians
4* Field Notes From A Hidden City
3* The King's Jews: Money, Massacre and Exodus in Medieval England
CR A History of Palestine 634-1099
CR Charlotte Brontë: A Life
3* The Alhambra
CR A Long Walk in the Himalaya: A Trek from the Ganges to Kashmir
CR Buddhist Warfare



4* History of Science 1700 - 1900
5* A History of England from the Tudors to the Stuarts
TR Secrets of Sleep
TR Turning Points in Modern History
TR Apocalypse
4* Myth in Human History
3* A History of Russia
TR Classic Novels
5* London
4* Re-thinking Our Past
4* The Vikings
OH Lost Worlds of South America
3* Rome and the Barbarians
TR Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon
OH History of Science: Antiquity to 1700
TR Albert Einstein: Physicist, Philosopher, Humanitarian
TR Will to Power: The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche
5* From Monet To Van Gogh: A History Of Impressionism
5* History of the English language
TR The Late Middle Ages
3* Great American Music: Boadway Musicals

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic, Comprehensive Overview of An Incredible Era
After joining both the National Trust and English Heritage and visiting dozen of stately homes, castles, and Tudor-era listed building and villages, I decided to give this another listen as I am finally getting all the factions and major players straight in my head. It remains an incredibly chaotic, volatile, and fascinating study of Tudor and Stuart royal history.

If you want to know about the tumultuous and transformative events of the Tudor and Stuart dynasties and the incredible changes in medieval England and Europe, all told with enthusiasm and erudition by Prof Buckolz, and American who clearly has great affinity for the complexity and humanity of all the players in this violent, dramatic, and exciting historical stage, then this series of lectures is the perfect solution to your needs. I've been deep down the rabbit hole of British history of late, and this was a great addition to my knowledge, covering events both new and familiar with a depth and insight that kept things fresh and interesting. Highly recommended.

[victoria_tonks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative. Prof. Bucholz is also really pleasant to listen to. He is obviously passionate about his subject and it adds to the enjoyment of the listener. However, the course is chock-full of dates, names and titles - which is hardly surprising as it is a history course after all ;) - but I felt lost quite a few times. This is perhaps my fault because I think I should have been following each lecture using the enclosed PDF overview. Anyway, four stars and a rec from me.

MTA: Upgrading the rating to five stars.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part I is a brief introduction to the English monarchy before Henry the 8th and culminates in a very lively overview of the life of Henry the 8th and the powerful elite of the time. It's very much a political history so you don't hear much about what else was going on during that time, except through the lens of the political happenings at the royal court.

While spending a good amount of time on the biographies of the royals (Edward VI, Elizabeth I, Bloody Mary, Lady Jane Grey, Mary Queen of Scots), Part II also covers how the nobility and commoners lived. It’s fascinating to imagine what it would be like to be transported back to this time. A time when children are everywhere; average lifespan is 30-40 years old; there’s no science-based medical care; if you reached your 50s, you probably wouldn’t have your teeth; and much more. There’s not much coverage of the arts (literary, visual, music), but Dr. Bucholz does a wonderful job introducing the economic, political, legal, and religious realities of the time.

Of the series so far, I think I enjoyed Part III the most. While being lectures, they're actually more like good stories with a case of famous characters -- King James I, Charles I, Charles II, Oliver Cromwell, et al. It's fun to listen to an expert storyteller tell this tale of royal intrigue about the most famous figures of the day.

Part IV finishes the political and economic history of this course. I knew little about this last period, so it was a great introduction to the likes of James II and the Jacobites, the Glorious Revolution, William & Mary, Queen Anne, and the start of the Hanoverian dynasty. I was surprised to learn how successful was Queen Anne's reign and how her regime completed the transformation of England from a lowly "backwater" to an elite world power that was the richest nation in Europe. The last lecture put the whole course in perspective, especially how early American history is very much a continuation of English history (e.g., the Declaration of Independence clearly echoes rights of English subjects that emerged during the early modern period).

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a little stretch to give this 3 stars. The material is very good, but the style of the lecturer is frequently annoyingly theatrical and sarcastic which I did not like at all. One thing I did like in the selection of the material is the inclusion of a good deal of information on the culture and economics of the period, and not just the politics and the wars.
One good line the Professor includes involves Nell Gwyn, the famous actress and one of many mistresses of king Charles, when she was stopped in her carriage by a mob who thought she was one of the Catholic mistresses. She told the crowd "My good people, do not be concerned. I am the Protestant Whore." It is hard to beat that as a quick response one liner.
So this is 24 hours of lectures covering a period of just 200 years, which is a lot of detail and I do like detail.
The Professor's overall theme for the lectures is how in this 200 year period England rose from an insignificant position in Europe to the greatest power in the world. He further asserts that this happened at the end of the period under Queen Anne and makes a case that it was due to Queen Anne's policies. I don't agree. It was due to the rise of England as the greatest trading nation, a result of many, many factors that occurred in the previous hundred years. In fact, really events going back to the Magna Charta. But it did all come to fruition under her reign. The Masterpiece Theatre series on the Duke of Marlborough and his wife Sarah deals with this period at the end of the 200 years and is well worth watching if you have not seen it.

[Suanne Laqueur · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE MILLION STARS. OK, I realize this lecture series might have an audience of one and I am IT, but if you count yourself among the geekdom of European history fans, I can't recommend this enough. I want Bucholz to be my permanent social studies teacher. Tutor for life. Governess. Governor? Whatever. If he teaches material, I will learn the shit out of it. This is a super complicated time in English history and he makes it clear, approachable and FUNNY. I guffawed or smiled out loud each episode. Every lecture I found myself thinking, "Ohhh, now I get it. That's what that war was all about. That's why that thing was such a big deal. That's what 'Glorious Revolution' meant...."

If you got a hungry mind and this is your kind of meal, pull up a chair. Eat every bite. It's sooooooo good.

[Mary Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thorough overview of a period of English I thought I knew...I really like the detail in how the English Whig and Tory parties were created, as well as how different eras addressed lasting themes that don't get really resolved until Queen Anne (or King George I, depending on your perspective).

I had always wondered about how Scotland and England/Wales really unified in 1705, and seeing the trajectory up til then helped.

Also, yay for Queen Anne! The best monarch ever!

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part One:

Although the history of the Tudors is one I am pretty familiar with [1], this first part of a four part epic course on the Tudor and Stuart dynasty is still a winning one. The professor is an American who spent many years studying and researching abroad, and so he brings to this course a mixture between an outsider’s approach to English history (and the history of the peripheral regions of what is now Great Britain and Ireland) as well as a great deal of research knowledge and expertise on that history. Likewise, the professor blends an interest in biographical history–focused here on such figures as Henry VII, Henry VIII, Cardinal Wosley, and a few others–as well as an interest in total history that focuses attention on people who are peripheral for reasons of geography or class, which makes for an intriguing class that blends together approaches of history from the top down as well as from the bottom up. The combination is definitely a worthwhile one and the course is definitely an enjoyable one.

The twelve lectures (and six hours) of this course are organized in a somewhat unconventional way that demonstrates the professor’s complicated purposes. The professor begins by introducing himself and his own background and looking at the purpose of showing how the Tudor and Stuart periods made England the first modern country in our world. Three lectures follow that show the land and its people in 1485, when the Battle of Bosworth made Henry VII ruler over a divided and marginal country. The author then goes back in time for two lectures to cover the late medieval period first from the death of Edward III to the outbreak of the Wars of the Roses and then the Wars of the Roses themselves. The next two lectures briefly cover the establishment of the Tudor dynasty through the sober and wary policies of Henry VII, an able but not particularly beloved monarch. The last four lectures look at the reign of King Henry VIII, looking at his early reign, the king’s great matter in the search for a legitimate male heir, the gradual break from Rome, and the question of whether the latter part of the reign of Henry VIII served as a Tudor revolution in terms of culture and the role of the state.

There was a great deal of value in this particular set of lectures, and those who want to know how Tudor history is relevant to our contemporary world would do well to listen to these lectures and to ponder over the historiography of the author. Of particular value was the way that the author compares the charismatic reputation of Henry VIII with the way that his reign served as an introduction to the contemporary welfare state where the government seeks to replace the church and other institutions in providing aid to the poor and in controlling the economic resources of the state and its territory. This book provided a bit of ominous understanding about some of the origins of the conflict over the role of government and the legitimacy of its authority that exist within the United States, showing how long the roots of this conflict go back into late medieval and early modern history. There are many other useful insights this course provides, such as the fateful division of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland when it came to the growth of English power and dominion over those areas, and also the way that the author has a deft grasp of many types of historical investigation. Here’s a class I look forward to continuing.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2012...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

Part Two:One of the unfortunate consequences of the rising struggle between various cultural views of history in the past few decades is that there is such a sharp divide about what people most appreciate when it comes to history. A traditional focus on narrative history that consisted of biographical accounts of elites and a strong interest in military history has been countered by a more contemporary focus on history from below that is strongly based on previously ignored prosography and a strong interest in data-driven statistical history that points to a much more complex history than that which focuses solely on elites [1]. This course seems intent on splitting the difference between the two approaches, and I must admit I find its mixture of approaches immensely appealing, since rather than providing half of the historical content that others manage, it provides double by giving multiple perspectives on the same time period and often the same people. This professor has a great deal of enthusiasm and knowledge for his subject and it makes for compelling listening or viewing, depending on how one takes this particular course.

This particular series of lectures consists of the second quarter of the professor’s studies on Tudor and Stuart history and ends at the midpoint, both literal and symbolic, of the course. The first seven lectures of this particular collection, each about half an hour long, cover the narrative portion of the professor’s approach, beginning with the last years of Henry VIII, then one lecture each for the short reigns of Edward VI and Bloody Mary. Four lectures then encompass Elizabeth’s reign, from the beginning of her reign, the settlement that she established in politics and religion, the dangerous world she inhabited, and her heart and stomach as a queen from the successful repulse of the Armada to her death in 1603 that ended the Tudor dynasty. The last five lectures take a turn towards the social historical approach at which the professor also excels, starting with a look at the land of England and its people in 1603, to a look at the private life of elites and commoners in two lectures, and then a look at both the ties that bound people together (especially neighborliness) as well as a look at order and disorder. The end results is to add a great deal of compassion as well as respect for the complex and nuanced relationships within society as well as the fragility of life for most people during the time, especially those who were vulnerable.

If you liked the first part of the course, this second part of the course will likely be one that you enjoy as well. This particular course largely builds upon the promise of the first course and carries it forward a few decades. This is not a problem as well. This particular audiobook is six hours of video that is time well spent getting to know the Tudors and some of their overmighty subjects as well as the common people who are largely neglected in many studies of the period. The professor deserves considerable credit not only for giving voice to the lives of a diverse group of 16th century Englishmen, as well as a few Scots and Irish, but also for introducing students to some of the debates and theories about life in Tudor England. This is a course that really fulfills on a considerable amount of promise in giving a genuinely exciting and insightful look at an important period of history and in framing that history in contrast with the American contemporary experience, which serves larger aims about the worth of the study of history for the wider public.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2013...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2013...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2012...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...

Part Three:

In this, the third of four parts of a lengthy course on the history of England between 1485 and 1714, Professor Bucholz manages to discuss mostly narrative history.  As has been noted before [1], this particular course divides its focus between a narrative history of the rule of the Tudors and Stuarts over the British Isles and a social history of how life was like for the population of England during that time.  This particular part of the course skews heavily towards the narrative historical approach, as will be discussed shortly.  Fortunately, this particular period of English history was full of drama, including the writing of Jacobean and restoration plays, the tragic history of the civil wars and foreign conflicts, and a great deal of political drama even when there were not wars to worry about.  It also included some compelling figures like William Shakespeare and Samuel Pepys, whose involvement is discussed at least a little bit here [2].  Those who have enjoyed the course so far will find a great deal to appreciate in the author's winsome approach and his obvious knowledge in the behavior of court and Parliament.

In terms of its contents, this set of lectures consists of twelve lectures that take about six hours or so to watch (or listen to) as the case may be.  The first lecture continues the previous part's discussion on the life of common people by contrasting to the previous discussion of the social control of small towns the more free but also far more dangerous life in towns and cities as well as trade and colonization.  After that the author spends a lecture talking about London and its growth through in-migration as well as its deadliness during the 17th century.  A discussion of the culture of the Elizabethan and Jacobean age in terms of architecture and art and literature (including drama) follows.  The remaining nine lectures consist of thoughtful and enlightening discussion of English history from 1603-1678, looking at the establishment of the Stuart dynasty, the period of ascendancy for the Duke of Buckingham, the struggles over religion and social control during the early part of Charles I's reign, the crisis of the three kingdoms from 1637-1642, the period of the civil wars, the search for a Parliamentary settlement from 1649-1653, the period of the Cromwellian regime, the restoration settlement, and the failure of the Restoration in the face of foreign wars and domestic political problems.

This particular era of English history revealed a lot of serious problems.  Religious consensus broke down and the seeming victory of the Puritans and their supporters during the English Civil War ended up in defeat because of an inability to forge an enduring settlement.  During the 17th century we see the English people struggle to define who they are, not appreciating the loss of their traditions nor the deceptive behavior of their elites.  We see minority groups struggling for toleration in an atmosphere of intense political competition involving trade, imperialism, and religion.  There is a lot to look back on, as we see governments attempting to increase revenues while struggling with a populace that is not sure of exactly what sort of government and what sort of social controls it wants to support or that it is willing to tolerate.  As has been the case previously, the author spends a lot of time talking about the chain of being and how it was under tension and strain in the face of conflicting political currents and ambivalent longings on the part of the population as a whole and its elites.  Above all, this lecture looks at the weaknesses of the Stuarts as well as the complexities of the peoples they ruled or misruled.

[1] See, for example:

http://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017/...

http://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017/...

[2] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2013...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...

Part Four:

This lengthy course, which began with a discussion of the medieval context for the beginning of the Tudor dynasty, ends in a satisfying fashion with a look at a Great Britain which has one foot in the Middle Ages with its classical ideals and one foot moving towards modernity.  Although I must admit that is not necessarily my favorite era of British history or one I know the most about, it is definitely a satisfying and mostly chronological examination of the period, and it certainly ends with a demonstration of the author's firm awareness of Atlantic history as a whole and with those historians who study its issues well [1].  What this professor does particularly well is not only cover an interesting era of history but also demonstrate how it is of value to his intended audience, namely Americans with an interest in English history and an ability to be motivated by the aspirations and hopes of the English populace as a whole, despite their flaws.  This is a course about flawed people who nevertheless made a great deal of achievement possible for the world.

The content of these last twelve lectures, totaling six hours or so of instruction is mostly chronological in nature, but it ends with three lectures that place the time period in a useful context and provide a great deal of balance and symmetry to the course as a whole.  The nine lectures that deal with time periods cover the history of late Stuart Britain as follows:  the Popish plot and the Exclusion crisis from 1678-85, the short reign of James II from 1685-1688, the Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689, two lectures on King William's War from its inglorious beginnings to its successful conclusion from 1689-1702, a discussion of partisan politics at the beginning of Queen Anne's reign and then two lectures on the War of Spanish Succession/Queen Anne's War as well as the successful peace at Utrecht from 1702-1714, and finally a discussion of the Hanoverian Epilogue from 1714-30 that confirmed Parliamentary supremacy and British strength in trade.  The course ends with two lectures on the land of Great Britain and its people in 1714 that look at economics and class as well as a considerable amount of attention on art and culture during the period and the way that the art and culture were no longer the province of rulers and elites but had expanded to commoners, and a placement of the history of England and its surrounding areas from 1485 to 1714 in a larger context both temporally as well as conceptually that demonstrates its high degree of relevance to a thoughtful American audience.

After 48 lectures and 24 hours of instruction, this course ends the way it should, with a look at the transition between the Stuart and Hanoverian dynasties, a consistent focus on the life and well-being of commoners, and a marked tendency towards speaking on behalf of those who have received undeservedly unfavorable coverage.  This professor is definitely a fan of the underdog.  While previous lectures demonstrated the author's fondness for social history, something these lectures show at least a little about, these lectures also revel on celebrating the matronly and feminine virtues of Queen Anne, a much maligned ruler who like the reviewer struggled mightily with gout and also point out the way that England's struggle towards toleration and constitutional  government inspired anti-colonial movements, antislavery agitation, as well as the constitutionalism of the United States.  In the end, this particular series of lectures performs admirable duty not only in informing the viewer or listener of a key period of time in English history but also in being honest about the flaws of the people involved and also encouraging those who pay attention to these lectures to engage in further study of the larger history of England and its people in the broader context of the world.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

[Shaie F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love listening to Professor Bucholz. I appreciate his humor and ability to translate 17th-18th century British culture in a way it can be understood by modern Americans. My favorite “Aha!” moment was when he discussed Charles I’s wife and the significance of her Catholic faith. To modern people, we might not think it a big deal if a political leader’s wife has a different religion than us. Bucholz compared it to the Red Scare in America—how would the majority of 1950s Americans react if the First Lady was openly a card-carrying communist? In a similar fashion, many English citizens were terrified that the King was also secretly Catholic and was quietly attempting to overthrow the English constitution and establish a Catholic absolute monarchy such as existed in France at the time.

[Alex Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This if the first time I’ve really gotten this whole storyline straight and it’s exciting stuff with lots of political & personal intrigue. The only curious omission was any mention of the song “I'm Henry VIII I Am.” Too political? Oh well “Let them eat cake!!”

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, that was a huge course! I learned so much about 17th century English history. I can’t really imagine a more complete or engaging course.

[Joanne Annabannabobanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Bucholz’s erudite exposition of this fascinating period in British History. As my familiarity with his style of delivery grew my enjoyment increased and became something I looked forward to with each chapter. Thoroughly engaging, this comprehensive history clarified my understanding of a complicated and remarkable period and its effects on our current cultural affairs and political machinations.

[Stennett Eberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous course! Unmatched in my humble opinion for covering the time period of the Tudors and the Stuarts and showing its tremendous impact on our world today.

[Keith Akers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very informative and filled in a lot of details I didn't previously know. I watched the DVD version, but there is a print version, which would probably be rather difficult to wade through (spoken vs. written word, you know). I was always rather vague about what led up to, and followed, the English Civil War, although I knew about Charles I, Cromwell, and the war itself. I also now understand what was behind the Jacobite uprisings of 1715 and 1745, even though this wasn't something that was officially a topic of the course. My previous knowledge was mostly from reading "Outlander"! Finally, even though this was also technically outside of the course, he has explained the Wars of the Roses really well, in covering the lead-up to Henry VII which is the official beginning point of period covered.

Buchholz integrates this into a single, continuous narrative about the question of legitimacy and "the great chain of being," illustrating the rise of parliament which didn't somehow lead to a republic (except very briefly), but rather to a constitutional monarchy. The conflict wasn't so much about who was the right successor to Queen Anne, it was about the role of parliament. This history improves (in my own mind) the reputations of several people, including Henry VII and Queen Anne. Queen Anne comes out looking a lot better than depicted in the movie, "The Favourite." Thanks to the professor for explaining, without really explicitly laying it out, the rise of a lot of concerns in the U. S. Constitution, such as the reluctance to allow standing armies, and eliminating the "affinities" (private armies) of the nobles.

[Desirae · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Overall, I'm torn. It took me months to get through this course, and I pride myself on finishing one lecture series by The Great Courses a month. But on the other hand I did enjoy the course and Bucholz's leprechaunic personality was a delight.

I've spent several years studying and honing my knowledge on the Tudor period, so I would say I was board for the first half of this course. The second half, which focused on the Stuart Monarchs was much more interesting to me, because I'm just not as familiar with that time in history.

Highlights for the course were the emphasis on the people. Bucholz stresses the importance of the common man just as much as any ruler - twice in the series we stop to follow "the woman" to discover all of the things she may have gone through depending on how long she lived. I was also pleasantly surprised by Queen Anne. There's been a lot of recent buzz about her because of the 2018 film, The Favourite, and I was happy to see her exhonorated from the way she was portrayed in that medium.

[Megan Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! I read this as a sort of "part two" to "The Story Of Medieval England from King Arthur To The Tudor Conquest" (Great Courses #8410) by Jennifer Paxton.

I loved these lectures. Professor Bucholz is a very engaging lecturer, and I loved to hear him make semi-private comments to himself -- a sort of comedic, Shakespearian aside. Hilarious.

I appreciated the breadth of his lectures; not only did he go over what was happening with the kings and other "power people", but he also took time to analyze the life of the theoretical common man and woman. He did a great job at giving voice to some of the marginalized factions of English history and society.

It was also nice to have a few lectures on what was happening in the humanities during the eras covered in the lectures. Professor Bucholz wove it all together in an exciting, interesting, and memorable way.

I'm getting very excited for my London trip! :)

[Finn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable course which gave a thorough overview of the Tudor and Stuart periods. There was a good mix of political history and the monarchy; and social history and life for the common man. The narrative follows fairly chronologically, but Bucholz was not afraid to jump forward or back in time in order to address important themes.

I would have liked a little more detail about the wars, particularly the English Civil Wars, but that's just my personal preference.

The lecturer was engaging and clearly enthusiastic about his subject; a joy to listen to. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to know a little bit more about a very important period of change in English history, with worldwide consequences.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic! Great instructor on a topic that I have always been interested in. I went into this lecture series with a bit of trepidation since all of the ones I've watched so far have been either 24 or 36 lectures long. This one has 48 lectures. On top of that I realized shortly after beginning that it was due back at the library in 6 days and could not be renewed. It was a pleasure to watch this even at the increased rate. I usually watch during my morning workout but had to find other times through out the day in order to finish in time and I did not get tired of watching. I may watch this series again since it was so much to take in in such a short time but I will gladly do so.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting and entertaining presentation of the Tudors and the Stuarts. Good insights into how different sectors of society lived as well as on the personalities surrounding the monarchs, their courts, parliament and the gentry. Clear presentaion that held my interest up until Queen Anne. For some reason her reign seemed boring. Not so of all of her predecessors. Lots of intrigue, beheadings, burning at the stake etc. It's amazing that people viewed executions as entertainment. It was a long haul (48 half hour lectures) but it was worth the time. Good entertainment for my daily hike.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent discussion of the period from 1485 to 1714. It is clearly set within the context of England before and after that period and offers explanations of our present belief systems, governments, and cultures in much of the world. Professor Bucholz shared his enthusiasm and knowledge of this period skillfully and with a degree of humor.

I gained a far better understanding of English history and much more as a result of listening to this series of lectures. Highly recommended if you share my interest in this subject.

[Kate Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched the DVD version of this Great Course--48 half-hour lectures--with support from the accompanying book. Professor Bucholz has organized a vast amount of material and presents it well, with just enough detail while still keeping one's interest. Every Great Course I have watched has been excellent and I always learn a great deal.
My library (Denver Public) now streams many of the Great Courses through Kanopy. You have to have a library card and be a Denver resident to use this service, though.

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great history course.

I wanted to listen to it for two reasons. First I just finished Hillary Mantell‘s Wolf Hall trilogy, so I wanted more information on Thomas Cromwell and the English Reformation. This seemed like a perfect choice. I had also just finished Professor Buchholz’s course on Modern Western Civilization, and it was excellent. So I figured his course on this key period in English history would be fascinating as well. It was. I highly recommend this course.

[Robert Federline · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Courses are Never a bad choice. As usual, this was highly informative and entertaining. It is also, however, one of the longer courses, lasting for 25 hours and is divided into 48 separate lectures. It actually had me wishing my commute were longer, so that I could absorb more on each day!

This is a course which should be of interest to all Americans, because so much of our political and legal system was taken directly from England. So much of what we rely upon today actually comes from these times in English history. At the same time, however, there are many distinctions between our two systems which become apparent between our two nations, and which help the student to appreciate so much more the genius of the Founding Fathers. This is especially refreshing in the present age where some pseudo-historians and pseudo-intellectuals wish to paint, using a very broad brush, and very evil colors, the origins of America with an ugly picture of its inception.

The venality of people appears to be timeless. Many of the intrigues practiced during this period of English history can be seen as playing out even today in both our countries. It is the genius for higher thoughts, religion and philosophy which continue to give us hope, however.

Never pass up an opportunity to expand the mind and knowledge and understanding by gathering true facts, rather than paper-hawking attitudes of mass media. Context is important, and facts, rather than inuendo and position points, are invaluable. If you learn lies and prejudices, rather than the facts, you will not be able to honestly analyze where you are, and have no hope of navigating to a better future.

[Gary Brumagin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic. Here we see presented a fairly clean (if that is even possible) explanation of what was going on in England and Britain during the 15th thru the 17th century, a very turbulent and massively transitional time in English history and ultimately the world.

The professor was impressively interesting and when presenting his opinion, made that clear. History is more than just a succession of events, dates, and people. It is an interpretation of those things, but even more so, it is the story of all the little people who supported all those things we learn about and Professor Bucholz does a good job incorporating them into the lessons.

As the course progresses, we learn of the forces changing the monarchy from an absolute monarchy somewhat akin to that of Louis XIV from France to the constitutional monarchy developed in Britain. In the American colonies, the same ideas were used to seize their independence, and later, other colonies of the British empire. It’s too bad that citizens of the US do not know their history better for the rights they claim they have, they have no idea how they came about. The attempts of the Founding Fathers to correct some of the weaknesses of the English constitution in that of the United States constitution did little but introduce other problems of its own. It’s a tough problem that one cannot fault anyone in missing a bit of nuance.

The course is immensely interesting and entertaining. Recommended for anyone interested in English or American history.

[Eowynselixure_book Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only Rae knows how deep the corruption of the heart of her kingdom runs. Imprisoned on a slave ship, she effects a harrowing escape - but her freedom comes with the weight of dangerous debts and terrifying magic.

Now, to free her land from the growing darkness, Rae will need every ally she can find, including Bren, the thief who may have stolen her heart. But Bren is hiding hi own bloody secrets, and the curses that encircle Rae have sunk their claws into her mind.

This was undoubtedly the best book of the series. Rae continues to be stubborn, courageous and yet realistic about the realities of the choices she faces. The rest of the characters were well written and believable.

I loved the romance, it was a slow burn and had its struggles and Bren wasn't overly macho or oppressive or protective. It was so refreshing to read about a couple who actually discuss the idea that they may not want children and appeared enthusiastic about that potential lifestyle!

The plot was exciting and fast paced yet gave you moments to breathe. The world is expanded and justice is done.

Overall I think this book was written very well and explored ideas that are often unpalatable but set in a fantasy environment. I really enjoyed it and my only niggle is that I don't think the series should end here, something you will rarely hear from me.

[Lamadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had very good content, and initially I enjoyed the presentation, but eventually, the enthusiasm and theatricality or the importance of British history, and how it was the most important thing that ever happened ever, wore thin. At first, I only noted to myself when he said that it was the first to do things that the Romans had done long before. But by the end, when all of human history apparently is borne on the backs of the British (obviously not literally, but this is the feeling of the exaggeration), I was ready to move on. Don't get me wrong, all the facts are there and are presented in an easily understandable way, but it felt like a little perspective was needed.

It is a good summary of the time period though, with lectures on the other, non royal, people, as well as all the figures you recognize from history class. I would have given this four stars if the final lecture hadn't seemed so over the top.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging and fairly well-rounded history of both the people in power and the common folk.

One reason that I enjoy listening to lectures for history that I don't actually need to learn is that I can let the dates and specifics wash over me, and at times, the lecturer encourages this, given how chaotic parts of this period were. I also enjoyed the early lecture that sets the scene for the beginning of this period by recapping some of the previous period.

My favourite things I discovered included: learning not only that Queen Anne existed, but that she was a very competent monarch, and potentially deserves much of the credit for the turnaround England made in this period; that for an illiterate peasant the constant changing names of the monarchs and consorts must have been really confusing; and the popish plot, which was basically old school fake news, in a world where access to information was so incredibly limited.

[Eero Ringmäe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't help it. I really like history lectures from the "The Great Courses" as a backdrop to my commutes and longer drives.

This one was no exception - a tour through the medieval England through it's rulers - the Tudors and the Stuarts. Professor Bucholz is a very good orator - he's telling a story and painting a broader picture of the context at the same time.

I am typically not a fan of biographies of kings or tales of royal intrigue, but this lecture series managed to tell a story of how a random European province - England - went to become the richest and most powerful country in the world.

Maybe how the stage is set is the weakest point as well - 80% of the steam goes to describing the royals and 20% to England as a people, country and power.

[Arka Sadhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very pleasant book to listen to. Similar to most books from great courses, the author is an amazing scholar and covers a lot of breadth from the various kings, their subjects as well as the changing life of common man. This should be viewed as an introduction to a very interesting period of history; for depth one could go into multiple separate books. For instance, the entire English Revolution is covered in 1-2 lectures, but one could find many books which treat this subject.

Overall, give it a shot if you had very superficial knowledge of the English history. You would get a reasonable understanding of different kings, queens and general structure of English history and then delve deep into any of the periods that is most fascinating to you.