The Tudors were an English-Welsh family that ruled England from 1485-1603. There were a total of six Tudor monarchs that ruled the country. The two most famous were King Henry VIII and his daughter, Queen Elizabeth I.

The Tudor Age marked the end of a long English civil war. The country had been divided over the Lancaster-York wars, known as the Wars of the Roses. (This long civil war was the subject of William Shakespeare's trilogy of King Henry VI plays.) The Tudor reign brought a long, peaceful period. The government to grew strong and ran more efficiently.

Many important historical events happened during the Tudor Age. Trade and exploration brought foods from the New World like tomatoes, pineapples, and chocolate.

Tudor architecture and style can still be seen throughout England. Gabled roofs, like the gables at the Shakespeare Hotel, and timbered ceilings like the one at the King Edward VI Grammar school in Stratford are good examples of this style of desgin.

Copyright © ProjectExplorer 2003-2006
Text: Jenny M. Buccos
Image: Courtesy of the Shakespeare Hotel, Stratford