What event in europe distracted england from pursuing empire the 1500s?

The event that distracted England from pursuing empire in the 1500s was the War of the Roses. This was a civil war fought between two branches of the English royal family, the House of York and the House of Lancaster. The war began in 1455 and ended in 1485 with the victory of the House of Tudor. During the war, England was embroiled in domestic conflict and had little time or resources to pursue imperial ambitions.