Heathen History – Elizabeth

Britain is a land of codebreakers. We are fascinated with spies, crosswords and murder mysteries.

This interest dates back to the 16th century, when the Elizabethans first became obsessed with trickery, cleverness and wordplay. 

Here  Dr James Fox, art historian and presenter of A Very British Renaissance on BBC Two, reveals some of the secret codes and hidden meanings that tantalised the Tudors.

Mr Kydd

The lecture above is rather high for an AS course. However, it does address many of the topics that we are considering in Unit Five. You should watch it and look to take a maximum of one side of A4 notes.

Good luck,

Mr Kydd.

All,

An enrichment opportunity. If you fancy going to a taster university lecture on the politics of intimacy in Elizabethan England, then please find the details below. The date is to be confirmed, but it will be at Royal Holloway University.

If you want to know more, or if you  have questions, then please find me.

Mr Kydd.

Please click here for an article from the Guardian explaining how Sir Walter Raleigh used messages in portraits to show his loyalty to the Queen. They can be found in the Elizabeth I and her people exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery discussed in the post below.

The article states “the sailor frequently needed to ladle on the praise, since his years as a courtier were spent both in and out of favour and in prison in the Tower of London. In 1588 his star was riding high, a hero of the battles against the Spanish armada, and his magnificent cloak, covered in a dazzling sun-ray of pearls, would already have been understood as an emblem of the Virgin Queen.”

Read on and see what you think.

Mr Kydd.

The National Portrait Gallery in London is running an exhibition entitled Elizabeth I and her people this Autumn. In their words the aim is to explore “the story of the Elizabethans from the Queen, the nobility and gentry to the many other talented individuals such as explorers, soldiers, merchants, artists and writers”. Click here for directions, and here to watch curator Tarnya Cooper introduce the exhibition. If you click here you can play the “Who do you think you were ?” game to find out where you would have been in Elizabethan society.

To find out more about Elizabeth society you should also come to History Society next Tuesday when I will be showing the Court episode of Ian Mortimer’s excellent Time traveller’s guide to Elizabethan England. This was the BBC adaptation of the excellent book. There will be cake.

If you have never visited an art gallery then the National Portrait Gallery is a great place to start. It is a very special place, and it is free (although the exhibition itself is £11.50). It is full of surprises, and it is only round the corner from Mr Woo’s Chinese Restaurant – all you can eat for £5.50.

Tudors and Chinese – what more could you want from half term ?

Mr Kydd.