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This course will explore the dynamic development of London during the Tudor century, an era shaped by the twin influences of the Renaissance and the Reformation, and marked by the growth of London both as a capital city, the royal chamber or Camera Regis, but also as a growing port and centre of trade and craft based industry.
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The early sixteenth century Scottish poet William Dunbar called London “the flower of all cities”, a thriving, glittering
metropolis that was to play a vital role in the history of Tudor England. Tudor London was a city of the highest
cultural achievement, most notably in literature and drama, and yet it was also society marked by great contrasts in
wealth and sometimes great disorders associated with religion, poverty and plague. This course will explore the
dynamic development of London during the Tudor century, an era shaped by the twin influences of the Renaissance
and the Reformation, and marked by the growth of London both as a capital city, the royal chamber or Camera
Regis, but also as a growing port and centre of trade and craft based industry.
What will we cover?
The Tudor accession and buildings of the royal palaces
• London and the Renaissance
• The impact of the Reformation and the dissolution of the monasteries
• Edwardian reforms and Marian reactions
• The Southwark theatres, bull baiting and bear baiting
• The growth of the West End estates
• Refugees and The Stranger Churches
• Puritanism and city government
• Poverty, vagrancy and the Elizabethan Poor Law.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Understand the social, cultural and economic forces that shaped London in the Tudor period, especially its built
environment
• Appreciate the role of religion and the church in everyday life in Tudor London.
• Understand the impact of the reformation on London
• Recognise the reasons for London’s growth in the sixteenth century, and the impact that this had on London’s
population
• Appreciate the relationship between London and the kingdom in the Tudor period.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Open to everyone with an interest in the history of London.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Delivered online through an interactive lecture.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
We’re sorry. We don’t have a bio ready for the tutor of this class at the moment, but we’re working on it! Watch this space.
Mike BerlinSee moreSee less
Mike is an experienced historian and educator with a deep passion for London’s rich and varied past. For many years at the City Lit he has taught a highly popular London history cycle. The cycle spans the city's journey from the Norman Conquest to the 21st century. In addition to his teaching at City Lit, Mike serves as a senior lecturer at Birkbeck College, University of London, specializing in the social history of early modern London. His extensive research has led to numerous publications, particularly on the history of London's guilds. Before joining Birkbeck, Mike worked as a research officer at the Centre for Metropolitan History at the Institute of Historical Research. Recently, his focus has shifted to 20th-century social history, including an in-depth study of the RMT transport union. Currently, he is delving into the history of the British New Left.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
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This course will explore the dynamic development of London during the Tudor century, an era shaped by the twin influences of the Renaissance and the Reformation, and marked by the growth of London both as a capital city, the royal chamber or Camera Regis, but also as a growing port and centre of trade and craft based industry.
0000-Available|2026-01-13 00:00:00virtual199,207199,259129,168HLW249,HLW251NONEMon,Tue15/09/25 - 24/11/2518:00 - 19:3018:0019:3010 sessions (over 11 weeks)105-10 weeksEvening,DaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetVanessa King,Mike BerlinAvailable courses2025-09-15T00:00:00+00:00,2026-01-13T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2025,Jan 2026Culture, history & humanities199199,259Tudor Londontudor-london/hlw249-2526,tudor-london/hlw251-2526This course will explore the dynamic development of London during the Tudor century, an era shaped by the twin influences of the Renaissance and the Reformation, and marked by the growth of London both as a capital city, the royal chamber or Camera Regis, but also as a growing port and centre of trade and craft based industry.,
This course will explore the dynamic development of London during the Tudor century, an era shaped by the twin influences of the Renaissance and the Reformation, and marked by the growth of London both as a capital city, the royal chamber or Camera Regis, but also as a growing port and centre of trade and craft based industry.
0000-Available|2025-09-15 00:00:00configurable
11841178London history & walkshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/history-culture-and-writing/history/london-history-and-walks1/2/285/1177/1178/11841/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/London history & walks