131-006 Religion, Revolution and Civil War: Britain 1603-1660

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Prerequisites

Normally, 131-005 Politics, Religion and Culture in Tudor England, 1485-1603.

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Subject Description

This is a period of significant historical transformation before, during and after the civil wars of the 1640s. After 1603 the Scottish Stuart kings of England encouraged magnificent architecture, literature and art, but there were increasing political tensions between the monarchy, parliament and the law. We analyse deepening religious tensions and how they enmeshed with constitutional issues, the breakdown of government and wars with the Irish and Scots. The culmination of the study is our research into the 'bloody and unnatural' savage civil wars from 1642 to 1648, accompanied by an intellectual ferment of popular social, religious and political ideas (often more modern than 'modern ideas'). Contemporaries called it the 'world turned upside down'. The execution of Charles I in 1649 was followed by the Republic of England, Cromwell's suppression of Ireland (with far-reaching consequences), overseas colonisation and, in 1660, the restoration of the monarchy.

Assessment

Written work totalling 4000 words.