AllMovie

The epic story of the British Empire for the past 5,000 years unfolds in this six-volume set. From the enigmatic past of Stonehenge to modern times, British history comes alive, with accounts of key events and people, from the Battle of Hastings to Winston Churchill. Reenactments, journals, photographs, archival film and news footage, artwork, and scholarly commentary are used to paint a colorful picture of the fate and fortune of a nation. This final episode chronicles the political and religious strategies of Henry VIII. Unable to get a divorce under Catholic doctrine, Henry VIII broke away from Rome, and made the Anglican church the official religion of the state. The ensuing struggle between the king and the pope had lasting implications for the future of England.