Elizabethan Diplomacy: Ottoman-Polish Crisis 1590 (Lecture with discussion)

Ref: C2346676

In April 1590, Polish diplomats sought the mediation of the English agent in Constantinople in order to help avoid a full-scale war between the Commonwealth of Poland-Lithuania and the Ottoman Empire. This talk reassesses the affair by exploring two questions: First, why did an embassy established to protect direct trade with the Levant become involved in political mediation in east-central Europe? Second, did Queen Elizabeth I really deserve the personal credit she received for the sudden reconciliation of two other monarchs, who both resided over a thousand miles away? This talk will be illustrated with short texts, maps and historical images. It will be divided into five sections with scheduled breaks for questions and discussion. There will be a 10-minute comfort break at half-time. Additional online materials will be provided via Canvas.

Course aim

How did an English diplomat responsible for protecting Levantine trade become involved in mediating a truce between the Ottoman Sultan and the King of Poland? This talk is based on the winning entry for the 2014 Sir John Neale Prize in Tudor History.

Do I need any particular skills or experience?

  • This course is for beginners and improvers

By the end of the course I should be able to:

  • Explain the economic, political and religious factors involved in the establishment of direct relations between Elizabethan England and the Ottoman Empire.
  • Explain the importance of Elizabeth English relations with the Commonwealth of Poland-Lithuania.
  • Describe the long-distance communication difficulties in late sixteenth century Europe.
  • Decide if Queen Elizabeth I of England really deserved the personal credit that she was given for mediating the 1590 truce between the Ottoman Sultan Murad III and King Sigismund III Vasa of Poland.

How will I be taught?

What kind of feedback can I expect?

What else do I need to know?

You will need an internet connection, e-mail address, speakers, a microphone and a webcam so that you can use Zoom video conferencing and our Canvas video learning platform. For information about Zoom and Canvas please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec http://bit.ly/WEAonline

Pre-course work, reading and information sources

What can I do next?

View full course information sheet

Elizabethan Diplomacy: Ottoman-Polish Crisis 1590 (Lecture with discussion)

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  • You are paying the standard fee (with a credit or debit card) or you are on any of the qualifying benefits
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  • You are aged 19 years or older on 1st September 2021
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  • You have read and accept our standard terms and conditions

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