It is 1588. A fleet of 130 Spanish ships — the greatest armada ever assembled — is sailing up the English Channel to invade England. If it succeeds, Elizabeth I will be overthrown, England will return to Catholicism, and the Protestant Reformation will be reversed. On the beach at Tilbury, Elizabeth rides out to address her troops: "I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too." She is sixty years old, unmarried, and has spent twenty years surviving assassination plots, Catholic rebellions, and the persistent belief — held by much of Europe — that a woman simply cannot rule a country. This topic is about how she managed it — and what that required.
This introduction covers Setting the Scene within The Elizabethans, 1580-1603 for GCSE History. Revise The Elizabethans, 1580-1603 in Component Group 3 — British Depth Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 1 of 16 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for The Elizabethans, 1580-1603
Describe three features of Elizabeth I's government and court in the years 1580-1603. [3 marks]
Describe three features of the Catholic threat to Elizabeth between 1580 and 1603. [3 marks]