Tobacco in Tudor and Stuart England

Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

Sir Walter Ralegh may get the credit, but tobacco’s story in England started long before he lit up — and it’s far more surprising than you might think.

In this video, we explore how tobacco travelled from sacred Native American ceremonies to Tudor England’s courtly circles. From its use in healing rituals to its rise as a fashionable trend—and finally to King James I’s fiery condemnation in A Counterblaste to Tobacco—this is the fascinating tale of how one plant sparked one of history’s first public health debates.

We’ll look at how sailors, explorers, physicians, poets, and monarchs all played a part in the spread (and backlash) of this smoky habit. From nose cancer to nose-wrinkling monarchs, Tudor tobacco was anything but boring.

Let me know in the comments—were you surprised by any of these tobacco twists?

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