Centrel-Local Interactions During Late Tudor Years

The reigns of Tudor monarchs began in 1485 when Henry VII was coronated, and ended in 1603 when Elizabeth I died. The reigns of Mary I and Elizabeth I covered the later part of Tudor Dynasty, i.e. from 1553 to 1603. This is a transitional era in English history. During this period of time, England was transformed from feudal society to capitalistic society. Middle-class elites - future capitalists were seeking new opportunities of development in all aspects. Their achievements caught the attention of the monarch and hereditary nobles, who had to re-evaluate these people. Trying to get the upper hand in the Parliament, both the monarch and the hereditary nobles offered them with an olive leaf. The complex relations between three political forces were best presented in the central-local interactions.The body of this thesis comprises four chapters: (1) The first chapter introduces the international background of late Tudor Dynasty, providing the historical context of cooperation and struggles. An analysis of the relations between monarch, hereditary nobles and middle-class elites is also included in this chapter. Such analysis is necessary. Without it, a comprehensive understanding would be impossible, concerning the central-local interactions and the struggles between monarch, hereditary nobles and middle-class elites. (2) Chapter two, three and four elaborate on these interactive activities from three specific aspects, namely politics, economy, and social security. Besides certain intensively-discussed topics, several less-discussed issues are also covered in this part, for instance, recruitment, rebellions and monopoly granting. These topics cast more light on local governments which are largely ignored in other cases. At the end of each chapter, the author summarizes the outcomes of central-local interactions respectively.Based on the previous analysis, the author concludes as follows: (1) The formation of English nation state was accomplished after years of turbulence. The author tries to prove this conclusion from five specific aspects. (2) During the later years of Tudor dynasty, conflicts between different social classes were kept under control, because the international environment of Tudor England was more threatening. While middle-class elites were extending their power to the Parliament, the feudal monarch and hereditary nobles were losing their advantages. It turned out that middle-class elites were the biggest winner in this struggle. At that time, the pattern of political progress in England was gradual modification, which is still true for today's Britain. Trying their best to avoid revolutions, middle-class elites compromised in the Parliament, to protect the development of manufacture and trade. This is typical of "English modification".