Political History and Corruption in MacbethTo understand many of William Shakespeare's plays, one must understand the history of the time. AL Rowse tells the story of William Shakespeare's time, from the late 16th to the early 17th centuries, and explains how the government of the time was authoritarian but popular. The person of the monarch (derived from the Greek "monorchia", the rule of one), the Crown, was something that even the lowest character could understand. Monarchs have many different titles, including king, queen, sultan, emperor, empress, tsar and kaiser, depending on the type of government and the location of the state they rule . Often the monarch was based on the need for a strong ruler who could bring together the best men in the country to train and command an army used to defend the country. The monarch was absolute and solely responsible to God and was considered God's representative in all worldly and royal affairs. A strong central government was necessary to maintain order and ensure a stable atmosphere in which commerce could flourish. Productive leadership qualities were very visible in Henry VIII, and even more so in his daughter Elizabeth (Rowse 226-263). Furthermore, “there is no doubt that she considered herself appointed by God to rule over her subjects” (Rowse 264). Henry VIII inherited from Henry VII a kingdom devoid of natural resources and yet surrounded by water on three sides. Although Henry's kingdom was protected by water, the Scots lived to the north and were allied with France. The Scots were England's ancient and bitter enemy. Henry's main concerns had been controlling the independence of the nobility and ...... middle of paper ...... "History of the Monarchy". Kings and queens of England. March 21, 2002. Online. Available. March 2002 Swisher, Clarice, ed. Readings on Macbeth. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999.Rowse, AL Elizabeth's England: The Structure of Society. New York: Macmillan Company, 1950. Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of Macbeth”. Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes. British tradition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall 1999.Streatfeild, Noel. The first book of England. New York: Franklin Watts, 1958.Wadsworth, Frank W. “Shakespeare, William.” World Book Online, American edition. Online edition. Online. Netzero. March 26, 2002. “William Shakespeare.” BBC homepage. Online. Available . March 26. 2002.