King Henry VIII and His Six Wives

Tudor Kings

• King Henry VIII (1509-1547) is the most famous Tudor king, remembered for having six wives.
• He had a daughter, Mary, with his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.
• Henry needed a son, so he divorced Catherine and married Anne Boleyn in 1533.
• When the Pope refused to approve the divorce, Henry founded the Church of England.

Elizabeth's Reign

• Anne Boleyn had a daughter, Elizabeth, who later became queen (1558-1603).
• During Elizabeth's reign, a golden age for art, literature, and music started in England.
• Sea captains like Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh stole gold and silver from Spanish ships in South America, making England rich and powerful.

Victorian Britain

• Before the Industrial Revolution, most people lived in the countryside, working at home and making products by hand.
• The invention of the steam engine enabled production of products faster, cheaper, and in larger numbers, leading to more people moving to towns to work in factories.
• The steam engine also enabled faster travel, allowing people to visit the seaside more often.
• During Queen Victoria's reign (1837-1901), the British Empire expanded, and new colonies provided cheap raw materials and food.

Modern Britain

• After the Second World War, Britain became less influential and more independent.
• Britain's culture, especially its fashion, and its political views still have a significant impact around the world.