
Is Shakespeare History? The Plantagenets
In Our Time: History
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The Wars of the Roses
Shakespeare's portrayal is incredibly dramatic, and it's very compelling. But you're absolutely right that the vast majority of the population wasn't touched by the wars. So some parts of the country would probably have barely known they were going on at all unless you were a high ranking aristocrat or unless you were in his retinue. As you say, there's a great deal of prosperity actually, particularly among middling status people.
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