2.2) african tudors in england (1500-1603)

Question 1

where in tudor england did some africans live?

Answer 1

southampton. barnstaple, plymouth and bristol

Question 2

who was john blanke?

Answer 2

• a trumpeter of the royal courts of henry VII and VIII
• may have come to england with catherine of aragon in 1501
• he successfully argued for a pay rise
• when he married in 1512, he was given gifts from the king

Question 3

who were the moors?

Answer 3

• people who lived in the re-conquered muslim territory of al-andalus (1492)
• some fled to north africa but others stayed and converted to christianity
• high-ranking moorish families were forced to work for spanish masters

Question 4

why did some moorish families come to england?

Answer 4

• after a failed rebellion against the spanish in 1568, some moors came to england as refugees from spain or morocco
• elizabeth I had established good relationships with much of north africa, the ottoman empire and the mughal empire.

Question 5

what evidence is there that black people were accepted in england during the tudor age?

Answer 5

• poets of the time wrote about the beauty of african women
• shakespeare’s texts recognise the presence of black people - sonnet 132 (1609)
• an english merchant john lok brought five africans from from portugal. he said he brought them to learn and interpret the english language. from then on, they couldn’t be legally enslaved in england
• court records showed that black people had the right to a voice and equal respect under the law
  
  • jacques francis was supported by the court when others said his testimony should be banned due to ‘slave’ status
  • 1579, an african who refused to serve his employer won his case in court