The video below highlights a period of the development of London that coincided with Henry VIII's destruction of Catholic monasteries following his decision to kick the church out and create the Church of England with himself as the head. It marked a period when the powers of the king expanded considerably since he was not only in charge of government and the church, he was suddenly considerably wealthy - which inevitably increases one's power.
I though it might also serve as a reminder that as we witness the destruction of religious sites in the Middle East, the west is not above doing similar things.
For more on these events:
- Tudor Place: The Suppression of the English monasteries.
- Wikipedia: Dissolution of the Monasteries.
- Wikipedia: List of monasteries dissolved by Henry VIII of England.
- Catholic Herald: A sad reminder of the art lost in the years after the Reformation.
