History

The course will cover the period from the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603 to the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the Bill of Rights (1689). It was a time when the British Isles was convulsed by a civil war which originated in a dispute between Charles I and the Houses of Parliament and led to the establishment of a Republic under the Lord Protector, Oliver Crownwell. In the end the Stuart Monarchy was restored in 1660 but then sent packing again in 1688 when William III of Orange and Mary II, the daughter of James II, took over as joint monarchs.

During the course we shall be looking at the twists and turns of these remarkable stories while trying to understand what was really going on. Why did the English Civil War break out? Why did Parliament eventually emerge triumphant and why was Charles I executed in 1649? How inevitable was the return of the monarchy under Charles II and why did things not work out for the dynasty in 1688? In order to do so, we shall have to survey developments elsewhere in the British Isles and on the continent.

Some of the most distinctive features of England developed at this time like its constitutional monarchy, radical political tradition and rich artistic and scientific traditions. You will learn about the big names – like James I and Anthony van Dyck and Isaac Newton – and those who might be less familiar to you like John Lilburne and Aphra Behn. Particular attention will be paid to the changes on the ground especially in our own area.