Book review: John Guy's Tudor England - Term Paper Example

John Guy is eminently suited to write this book. His impeccable credentials for the job he did in the form of this voluminous book are-- he is the Reader in History at the University of Bristol. He was also the John Hinkjley Visiting Professor at the Johns Hopkins University from 1989-1990. He specializes on the subject of history on Tudor period and has authored many books. He is the regular contributor to the Oxford Illustrated History of Britain. He has applied the sense of judiciousness and equity in the narrations.

He argues his points well and as a proof of his genius for details he has given 54 pages of references which indicate as to how painstaking he is for proving well-researched details. Competency in administration is the hallmark of system of governance and it is the fundamental sustaining power for any country/kingdom. He writes, “Since Fortescus knew that the crown must check its financial decline, he proposed retrenchment and re-endowment. He demonstrated that political stability and the King’s capacity to maintain his estate were linked: the King should also be able to pay his officials to meet normal expenditure without having to borrow at high interest rates.”(p.4) Guy’s handling of the administrative details under Thomas Cromwell is a model historical analysis and the facts mentioned are applicable in today’s administration as well.

Some of the salient features covered in the book are: 1. Discussion about the far-reaching changes in government and Reformation of the Church administration under Henry VII, Mary, Edward VI and Elizabeth. 2. Individual character studies of the monarchs and politicians of the era. 3. Strengths and weaknesses of the Tudor Government, style of functioning of their local and national level administration. Membership and conflicts in the Privy Councils. 4. Analysis of the Tudor English economy, political culture and society.

The history of Tudors is one of the most important periods of British history. They were a Welsh-English family which ruled England from 1485-1603. Religion played an important role in the political administration and the interference of the Church in the affairs of the State was awesome. Tudors ruled for 118 years and the various rulers encouraged new religious ideas, annexure of new colonies and overseas exploration for encouraging commerce and trade. The chronology of the rulers was Henry VII 1485 – 1509, Henry VIII 1509 – 1547, Edward VI 1547 – 1553, Jane Grey 1553 – 1553, Mary I 1553 – 1558, and Elizabeth I 1558 – 1603.

Of these two were strongest monarchs, every to occupy the English throne. They were Henry VIII and his daughter Elizabeth I. Some the rulers were famous for infamous reasons. Henry VII became the first Tudor King after winning the Bosworth Field that resulted in the end of War of the Roses. His son, Henry VIII, married six times and beheaded two of his wives. Exploration of America and the plays of William Shakespeare belong to the period of Henry VIII. England began to step into the modern age from the medieval world during the sixteenth century.

From the religious point of view it marked the end to the domination of the Catholic Church. With the beginning of the naval exploits, seafaring tradition and the process of