Tudor England

"During this period the nation was drawn inexorably into the wider world: the ideals of the European Renaissance permeated many aspects of cultural life; the impact of the Reformation changed forever not only the established religion but also the map of the entire English countryside, and it brought in its wake new political and dynastic alignments, both internally and with respect to the continental mainland; a period of intensive maritime development brought the nation to the point where it could launch itself sucessfully on the world stage. This key chapter in the story of England is charted with special reference to the Musuem's outstanding collection of decorative arts and antiquities - the material expressions of these historical developments. The text is supplemented with fifty-seven illustrations (fifty-four of them in colour) in a format that is as accessible as it is informative."--BOOK JACKET.