This innovative textbook uniquely combines an integrated survey of European and English history in the sixteenth century. The book is structured in three parts: the Western European Environment, The Rise of the Great Monarchies and the Crisis of the Great Monarchies. It covers political, social, religious and economic history from the late Renaissance to the end of the reigns of Elizabeth I and Phillip II. It recognises the amount of common belief and interest between the British Isles and Western Europe in the century of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation and indicates how events were linked.Key features:* colourful and informative biographical sketches of major figures clearly structured genealogical charts, chronologies and full glossaries surveys of changing historiographical debates, including contemporary issues documentary exercises related to examination questions lavish illustrations including maps, tables, photographs and line drawings