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TIME PERIOD IDEAS IN LITERATURE
1485–1660 Opportunity and Loss
English Renaissance

The English civil wars of the fifteenth century saw competing royal families fight
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PERIOD for the English crown. When Henry VII ultimately became king in 1485, he
Monarchy ushered in a period of relative peace and prosperity that lasted for most of the
Copyright (c) 2023 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Uncorrected proofs were used with this sample chapter.
King Henry VIII IDEA BANK next two centuries. But the war had exposed cracks in the static feudal order. The
Queen Elizabeth I Art English government was gradually becoming more centralized, as the monarch
King James I Carpe Diem and Parliament uneasily shared power. Rents to local lords were increasingly
superseded by taxes paid to the state. In the process, the status and wealth of
Exploration and Colonization of the New World Comfort English noblemen declined.
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Mercantilism, Capitalism, Commerce Creativity These historical developments opened a space for stock companies, entrepre-
Carpe Diem Protestant Reformation Despair neurs, and foundational elements of capitalism. Merchants and tradespeople moved
Calvinism Development to cities: new centers of commerce that were already becoming overcrowded. Even
Church of England Education peasants gained more freedom to sell their labor, which allowed them some social
King James Bible Empathy and economic mobility. Most importantly perhaps, wealth increasingly derived
Printing Press Experience
Cavalier Poetry Fervor
Humanity
Idealism
Innovation
CONNECTING TO BRITISH
LITERATURE Joy
Loss
Cavalier Poets Lust
Andrew Marvell Music
Robert Herrick Opportunity
Richard Lovelace Progress
Purity
Risk
Technology
Pictures Now/Alamy
Youth

This is a map from 1482 based on the work of the second-century Roman
mathematician Ptolemy. The rediscovery of Ptolemy’s maps revolutionized
Renaissance mapmaking by suggesting that maps should be determined
geographically and based on distance calculations. Previously, mapmakers
relied on other sources, such as geographical references from biblical stories.
What perspective on the world does this map suggest?

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166 Unit 2 Analyzing Comparisons and Representations

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