The Sixteenth Century 1485-1603 [Hardcover]

This volume provides a sophisticated yet accessible account of the transformation of the British Isles in the sixteenth century. Six thematic chapters explore the changes in the English monarchical polity, ranging widely to consider the new relationships between the different parts of the British Isles and the establishment of a national, royal, and protestant church. Separate chapters consider Britain's overseas role; the economy and society; and the literary and cultural development in this period which felt the impact of the English Bible and Shakespeare.

Introduction,Patrick Collinson
Economy and society,J. A. Sharpe
The limits of power: the English crown and the British Isles,Steven Ellis
The Change of Religion,Diarmaid MacCulloch
Monarchy and Counsel: Models of the State,John Guy
The Renaissance in Britain,Greg Walker
Britain, Europe, and the world,Simon Adams
Conclusion,Patrick Collinson
Further Reading
Chronology
Glossary
Maps
Index

Well-written chapters meld nicely into a holistic account of a fascinating age. --History: Reviews of New Books

Patrick Collinsonis Regius Professor of Modern History, Emeritus, in the University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of Trinity College. He prevously held chairs at the Universities of Sydney, Kent at Canterbury, and Sheffield. He is a fellow of the British Academy and of the Australian Academy of Humanities. He is the author of numerous books and articles on sixteenth-century Britain, includingThe Elizabethan Puritan Movement(OUP, 1990) andElizabethan Essays(1994).