Blackamoors in Tudor England KS3 Teaching Resources

Historians have found that numerous people of African origin lived in England not only during the Roman occupation of Britain and the Medieval Period but also during the Tudor rule. Africans were commonly referred to in English archival sources as "Blackamoors," a term used at the time to describe people of African descent.

Blackamoors held a variety of roles in society—working as musicians, artisans, servants, sailors, and more. They lived in both urban centres and rural communities, were paid wages, and were generally regarded as free members of society. Their presence and contributions reflect a level of integration that challenges later assumptions about race and status in England. However, the Stuart period marked a notable shift in the status of Africans in England, as England’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade grew and racial attitudes hardened.

Historians such as Onyeka Nubia, Miranda Kaufmann, and Imtiaz Habib have uncovered a wealth of documentary evidence—ranging from letters and legal documents to church records of baptisms, marriages, and burials. Their work has helped illuminate the lives of people of African origin in Tudor, England (1485–1603), revealing that they were not rare anomalies but part of the broader fabric of English society. These findings have deepened our understanding of Africans' long and complex history in Britain.

Learn more about Blackamoors in Tudor England through the centuries with our KS3 resources. You’ll find Student Activities, Lesson Presentation, and Revision Notes ready to download below. KS3 resources are ideally suited for Years 7, 8 and 9, or ages 11-14.