Intolerance and Martyrdom (Third Turning, 1542–1569) was an era of social fragmentation, civil rebellion, and deadly political intrigue. Through the reigns of Edward VI and Queen Mary, the throne tacked violently over the issue of religion. The economy careened in a boom-bust cycle, with royal debasements fueling unprecedented inflation. When the era closed, early in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, a disillusioned nation looked anxiously at the future.

• Humanists entering elderhood
• Reformation entering midlife
• Reprisal entering young adulthood
• Elizabethans entering childhood