This book is a good starting point for anyone studying Elizabeth I’s foreign policy. It is a short, instructive book that provides the basic foundations one needs to understand the complexity behind foreign relations during the early modern period. The chapters are divided thematically and chronologically, which also helps when planning lessons, depending on which topic you want to cover during each session. The chapters are also short enough for some pupils to engage with in their own time.

This edited volume is a good collection to start with, as it presents a unique look at Elizabeth’s relationships with her European and non-European counterparts. Each chapter offers new approaches and new sources that shed light on several specific aspects of Elizabeth’s foreign relations. The last three chapters may have the greatest relevance to a younger, more global-minded generation as they discuss England’s relationship to Islam, offering new ways to study Elizabeth’s foreign relations. Nabil Matar’s chapter ‘Elizabeth through Moroccan Eyes’ offers a fresh perspective on her foreign relations outside of Europe, and can be a great starting point for discussions in the classroom.

It is always interesting to step out from academic writing and engage with sources that students find more approachable. This article offers a short – but much-needed – overview of Elizabeth’s special relationship with Henri III of France. It delves into the alliance between a Protestant queen and a Catholic king who, despite having very little in common, were forced to protect their own interests due to the situation in Europe. The article could lead to a discussion on how monarchs overcame religious differences for political reasons, and it would complement Matar’s chapter on Elizabeth and Morocco well.

A closer look at Elizabeth's handling of one of the most well-known conflicts of her time.

Elizabeth's appearance was planned in every detail to suggest power and strength and this clip shows how.