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Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and Henry VIII

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This comprehensive scheme of work on Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and Henry VIII is designed for the 16-18 age range, and should be followed with a study of the Henrician Reformation 1529-47. I also teach this topic to younger students using resources on the following page: The reign of Henry VIII.

How did Wolsey rise to power?

A detailed account in the form of a gap-fill exercise, with structured tasks.

The course of Wolsey's rise to power

A self-marking online quiz to test knowledge from the previous exercise.

What was Wolsey like?

A selection of sources from historians and contemporary witnesses, with structured questions.

How did Wolsey maintain his position?

An online slideshow presentation complete with follow-up tasks.

Why did Wolsey rise to power?

Read through the first paragraph and come up with a one-word subheading which you think summarises the point it is making about Wolsey. Repeat the process for the other paragraphs.

Foreign Policy 1509-14 | teacher notes

Detailed teacher lecture notes and an accomanying student worksheet.

Foreign Policy 1514-29 | teacher notes

Detailed teacher lecture notes and an accomanying student worksheet.

Field of the Cloth of Gold

Interactive Sourcework Exercise. Students should use what they learn to answer the question "What was the Field of the Cloth of Gold and what was its significance?":

Wolsey and administration

Detailed information and structured tasks.

Wolsey and finance / parliament

Overview and structured questions.

Wolsey: society and economy

Information sheet and follow-up questions

Wolsey: the legal system | teacher notes

Detailed teacher lecture notes and an accomanying student worksheet.

Wolsey: the church

Comprehensive information sheet and structured questions.

Why did Wolsey fall from power?

Various historiographical positions outlined, with accompanying tasks.

Primary sources about Wolsey's fall from power

Primary sources to analyse to develop the previous lesson activity.

Model essay: analyse the rise and fall of Thomas Wolsey

Originally written for History Review by Russel Tarr of ActiveHistory.co.uk.

 

Interview Henry VIII!

Head2Head Interactive Interview.

 

 


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