Continuity and Change in Elizabethan Foreign Policy - Part 3

How to teach this, that is the question now.

Again, as with the previous sequence of posts, it is important to position Elizabethan Foreign Policy in the wider historical context - what went before and led to the situation Elizabeth faced at the start of her reign. It is also important to position the foreign policy in the wider European context of the time - what events forced decisions upon her during her reign. In this respect I have barely scraped the surface, for example why was Spain so disinterested in England during the late 1560's and the 1570's when the relationship was deteriorating rapidly and messily? Because although Phillip was disturbed by the religious developments in England and by the growing threat of English interference in the Netherlands, he was more concerned with the threat from Turkey.

So the key is to place the foreign policy in its broader context and once again explore the idea that decisions are never made in isolation and that each and every decision brings its own set of pros and cons, consequences both real and imagined.

Presenting the information for this topic could be complex. It might make sense to present it in the form of a diagram showing the relationships between England, France and Spain, and against each country listing the primary concerns which might drive their foreign policy. This might allow a graphical representation of where these concerns and factors overlap and therefore create tension or lead to mutual interest and friendship. So for example, under Spain would be the concern to retain control over the Netherlands due to trade and prestige concerns. Under France would be the need to thwart the Hapsburg encirclement and the Netherlands being a convenient place to do it. Under England would be the need to maintain the Netherlands under friendly rule to safeguard trade and prevent enemies gaining access to suitable ports of embarkation to invade.

This idea would need some development if I were to take it to the point of a lesson plan, but I think this is a good start point.