History Extra podcast Tudor England | 5. The wider world
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Dec 26, 2024 Tracy Borman, an esteemed author and historian focusing on Tudor history, joins Emily Briffett to discuss the intriguing world of 16th-century England. They explore how England emerged as a significant European player amid wars and the darker sides of exploration, including slavery. The conversation delves into notable Tudor explorers like Drake and Raleigh, the development of an English identity influenced by Henry VIII, and the grim realities of exploitation faced by indigenous peoples, all set against a backdrop of cultural advancements and international rivalry.
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Limited Travel
- Most Tudors didn't travel far from home.
- Travel was usually for a specific purpose like selling goods or visiting family.
Tudor Transportation
- The River Thames was like the "M25 of its day," a busy but efficient way to travel in London.
- Roads were mostly dirt tracks, making land travel difficult and hazardous, especially in winter.
English Identity
- English national identity developed during the Tudor period, fueled by the break from Rome.
- This is reflected in Shakespeare's plays, architecture, and a growing national bureaucracy.