Page 28 - Year 7 Spring 2026 Knowledge Organiser

History: The Renaissance and the Tudor Dynasty: 2 of 2

The Renaissance: A period of time The Tudors: Key monarchs
between 1500-1700 in which society Were the monarchy between 1485 until 1603. King Henry VII: First Tudor King in
began to change. People moved away 1485.
from traditional ideas and began to The Tudor period lasted from 1485 to 1603. It all started when a Henry VIII King of England from 1509
challenge these traditional ideas. The man named Henry VII won a big battle and became king. He was to 1547.
Renaissance began in Italy in the 14th the first Tudor king. His son, Henry VIII, is a very famous king Catherine of Aragon: Henry’s first
century. because he had six wives! Henry VIII also made a big change in
England's religion. Then came his children: Edward VI, Mary I, and wife.
Elizabeth I. Each of them ruled in their own way. Anne Boleyn Henry’s second wife –
The Renaissance began in Florence during During the Tudor time, people lived in big castles and beautiful executed.
the 14th century. During this period, Italy houses. Some people were very rich, like the kings and queens, Jane Seymour: Henry’s third wife.
was not one unified country, but made up while others were poor. Tudor England was also a time of exciting Thomas Moore: One of Henry’s most
adventures. Brave explorers sailed across the seas, discovering
of small ‘city-states’. These states all had new lands and bringing back treasures. Tudor England was a time trusted advisors – he was executed by
their own unique identity, for example of great stories and wonderful plays, written by famous writers Henry because he disagreed with him.
Florence or Venice. like William Shakespeare. Edward VI: 9 year old King in 1547
until 1553.

Keyword Definition Mary Tudor (Mary I): 1553-1558
Catholic Tudor Queen
Tyrant A cruel or unfair ruler. Elizabeth Tudor (Elizabeth I): 1558-
Monarch The leader of a country such as a king or 1603 Protestant Queen.
queen.

Execution A death sentence.

Treason The crime of betraying (disloyal) your country. Primogeniture
In Britain, the rule of primogeniture meant that the first born son of the
Divorce The ending of marriage. ruling King or Queen would become the King upon the monarch’s death. (If
the King has inherited the throne, then his wife is the ‘Queen’ but she only
Pilgrimage A religious journey. has this position while they are married and/or the King is alive.)

Monasteries Religious building in which monks live. This was fine if the King or Queen had a first born son. Until Mary I, no Queen
had acceded to the throne and ruled in her own right, largely because it was
Rebellion The act of going against authority. believed that they were not capable. It was accepted their husband would
rule or, as soon as possible, a male heir if there was one. However, this left
The Reformation When Henry VIII breaks away from the the throne open to greater threat and did in effect, mean giving up the
Catholic church and forms his own religion throne to the family of the husband of the Queen.