Module manager: Professor Stephen Alford
Email: s.alford@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Taking as its point of departure the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1587 and its point of termination the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603, this special subject will investigate in close detail the last 'long' decade of Elizabeth's reign - one of the least-researched aspects of the Tudor century. Our interest will be in two areas especially. The first is politics, and the challenge for the queen and her government of negotiating the war conditions of the 1590s, political faction at court and the anxieties of a still undecided royal succession. The second is Elizabethan England's expanding horizons in these years in terms of colonization and trade in America and South-East Asia. These two things - a polity under severe strain and yet also emerging global ambition - are interconnected, and it is the purpose of this special subject to explore why. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
The objective for this module is to give you a deep and informed understanding of the later period of Queen Elizabeth I's reign, 1588-1603 and of the different kinds of sources historians use to investigate Tudor politics and colonization.
The module also aims to equip you with a sophisticated and critical knowledge of the secondary literature on Elizabethan history.
In addition, we will develop the skills needed to express ideas and arguments effectively and persuasively in essays, primary source exercises, and in class discussions.
On successful completion of the module you will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. An understanding of the key approaches to later Elizabethan history;
2. A knowledge of the different kinds of sources historians use to investigate Tudor politics and colonization;
3. A mastery of the appropriate scholarly literature;
4. Your ability to read and interpret sources;
5. Your ability to express ideas and arguments effectively and persuasively in essays, primary source exercises, discussions and informal (non-assessed) presentations.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Supervision | 2 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Seminar | 20 | 2 | 40 |
| Private study hours | 355.6 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 44.4 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 400 | ||
You will have the opportunity for a one-to-one meeting to discuss you essay plans and ideas with the module tutor.
In semester two you will receive appropriate formative feedback in your preparations for the OTLA, including feedback of at least two sample gobbet answers.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay or Dissertation | Essay | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 50 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Online Time-Limited assessment | 48.0 Hrs 0 Mins | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 50 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 28/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team