Tudor History: Daily Life in Tudor England with Dr. Elizabeth Norton

 The vast majority of people in Tudor England dramatically different lives than the royals, far away from the splendor of the royal court. However, the Tudors instigated and facilitated a considerable upheaval to commoners' lifestyles during their time in power – with growing state centralization and the threat of enclosure of common land.

Britain's towns and cities were growing rapidly in size too, with considerable migration both from rural areas and, in some cases, from Europe. Society was highly stratified, with a person's opportunities determined by their social class. For women, life was often constrained, with most entering service before marrying and starting a family of their own.

Led by Dr Elizabeth Norton, a British historian and expert on the Tudor period, this conversation will look at the daily lives of the people who lived in Tudor England. Using specific examples from throughout the sixteenth century, we will look at the way people lived and how daily life changed in the Tudor period, focussing on education, employment, the role of women, the importance of the family, urbanization, and leisure time. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased sense of just what it was like to be a commoner in Tudor England.

The Tudor Dynasty captures the imagination like no other period in English history. This series of talks led by British historian Dr. Elizabeth Norton will examine the world of the Tudors – and the many wives of the notorious King Henry VIII – with each week’s standalone lecture looking at a particular topic or theme.

On August 22, 1485, an obscure Welsh nobleman named Henry Tudor surprised everyone by winning the throne of England on the battlefield at Bosworth Field. Taking the throne as Henry VII, he would be the first of five Tudor monarchs, who would rule England for 118 years. Following him was his son, the infamous Henry VIII with his six long-suffering wives, as well as his three grandchildren, Edward VI, ‘Bloody’ Mary Tudor, and Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen.

This series of lectures will look at the lives of these key family members and their prodigy, and contextualize their stories' impact on the modern monarchy.

Dr. Elizabeth Norton is a British historian, specializing in the Tudor period. She has degrees from both Oxford and Cambridge universities and King's College London. She is the author of twelve books, including 'The Hidden Lives of Tudor Women', 'The Temptation of Elizabeth Tudor' and biographies of four of Henry VIII's wives. She regularly appears as an expert on television.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.