England in 1485 was a country on the edge of change. It was emerging from the turmoil of the late medieval period and was crossing the threshold into the early modern world.  The kingdom was a land of contrasts; extremes of wealth and poverty existed alongside one another; traditional hierarchies stretching back into the mists of time were beginning to accommodate "new men".   In this episode, we deconstruct England on the eve of Henry Tudor’s invasion, exploring its geography, people, economy, society, and culture. From the lives of peasants working the land to the power of great magnates who dominated politics, discover what England was really like before the arrival of the first Tudor king.

Further Reading:

John Guy, Tudor England (2000)

Susan Brigden, New Worlds, Lost Worlds (2000)

Thomas Penn, Winter King: Henry VII and the dawn of Tudor England (2011).

What is it about the Tudors? Despite ruling England for little more than a century, the Tudors remain one of the moststudied periods in both A Level and popular history. In this inaugural episode of the podcast, we deconstruct a simple question: Why the Tudors? From larger-than-life monarchs and political intrigue to religious upheaval and profound social change, we examine what makes the Tudor era so enduringly fascinating. Along the way, we will consider not only the colourful personalities at its centre but also the transformativedevelopments that reshaped England and left a lasting impact on its history.