The Elizabethan Era– the time during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603).
Introduction:
The Elizabethan Era, while appearing beautiful and magnificent, was a dangerous time. People starved, opinions could not be heard for fear of tyranny being called, and many wanted to kill the Queen. Most interesting about this era is the person it was named for.
Elizabeth's Rise and Rule:
Elizabeth I was the daughter of Henry VIII. After deciding that he would divorce his current wife (Catherine of Aragon) to marry Anne Boleyn, he had Catherine beheaded. Because Anne did not give him a boy, he eventually had her executed also. But she did give him a girl– who was fated to lead England. Henry remarried again and again, having a son, Edward VI.
Elizabeth was cared for by governors and tutors at the Hatfield House. She knew Greek, Latin, public speaking, and a number of other subjects, which she learned mostly from Roger Ascham. Henry VIII’s sixth wife, Katherine Parr, saw to Elizabeth’s later education.
After Henry VIII died of sickness, Edward VI died of sickness, Lady Jane Grey was executed, and Mary I died of sickness, Elizabeth I took the throne on November 17th, 1558. Despite the fact that political ties would become stronger, Elizabeth refused to marry and face other suitor's hostility.
Mary Stuart of Scots became queen when she was just a few days old after her father, King James V of Scotland, the grandson of Henry VII and nephew to Elizabeth's father, died. Because she was the granddaughter of the elder sister of Henry VIII, she was also in line for the English throne now occupied by Queen Elizabeth I. Despite the threat of uprisings of Catholic Europe if Mary was left alive, Elizabeth grieved over Mary’s execution. As expected, Catholic Europe acted because of this, leading to the commission of the Spanish Armada to attack England. The Spanish Armada was defeated in 1588, after King Philip II of Spain declared war. Following the Armada defeat, the Church of England was strengthened.
Controlling Ireland during the 1590s was difficult. The Nine Years War started in 1594, when hundreds of British troops died. Her ministers passed away.
Queen Elizabeth improved the general lifestyle that her subjects lived and is still respected by all.
Elizabeth was cared for by governors and tutors at the Hatfield House. She knew Greek, Latin, public speaking, and a number of other subjects, which she learned mostly from Roger Ascham. Henry VIII’s sixth wife, Katherine Parr, saw to Elizabeth’s later education.
After Henry VIII died of sickness, Edward VI died of sickness, Lady Jane Grey was executed, and Mary I died of sickness, Elizabeth I took the throne on November 17th, 1558. Despite the fact that political ties would become stronger, Elizabeth refused to marry and face other suitor's hostility.
Mary Stuart of Scots became queen when she was just a few days old after her father, King James V of Scotland, the grandson of Henry VII and nephew to Elizabeth's father, died. Because she was the granddaughter of the elder sister of Henry VIII, she was also in line for the English throne now occupied by Queen Elizabeth I. Despite the threat of uprisings of Catholic Europe if Mary was left alive, Elizabeth grieved over Mary’s execution. As expected, Catholic Europe acted because of this, leading to the commission of the Spanish Armada to attack England. The Spanish Armada was defeated in 1588, after King Philip II of Spain declared war. Following the Armada defeat, the Church of England was strengthened.
Controlling Ireland during the 1590s was difficult. The Nine Years War started in 1594, when hundreds of British troops died. Her ministers passed away.
Queen Elizabeth improved the general lifestyle that her subjects lived and is still respected by all.
General Changes of the Era:
During this time, England was the naval and commercial power of the western hemisphere. Sir Francis Drake navigated the world and was famous because of it. Sir Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Walter Raleigh had colonists travel eastward for wealth. The European wars brought refugees into England, bringing new cultures. England changed mostly in trade, strength, and art.
New foods became obtainable such as the tomato, turkey, and spices all from the British colonies.
London grew from 40,000 people to 200,000 in the 1500’s. The merchant class was the most successful profession and helped the economy, which was doing better than ever at the start. As a result of the plague, every person who worked would receive money in return for their services because of the reduced population. Wool became a comm on source of income during this reign. Many Englishmen became apprentices. Because of a flourishing economy, the merchant class soon became wealthy. As a result of the colonization of North America, new wealth (spawning from the natural resources) increased trade.
Land set aside for peasant farms was now used for raising sheep because of high wool demand. Former peasants and others moved to towns to obtain jobs. These land properties were bought and farmed by only several people to make more profitable money.
The rise in population during the 16th century meant that London and all of Great Britain soon became overcrowded. The average person then lived in poverty. The government tried to stop this by introducing new Acts that put the responsibility of the poor on other’s shoulders called the Poor Laws. This did improve the conditions of most, but there were still problems that weighed the standards down.
After Henry VIII (Elizabeth’s father) had gotten rid of most gold and silver coins, Elizabeth I tried to make up for it by making new ones to put into circulation. This meant that the British economy was now even more inflated.
The natural resources, which had been abundant because of the colonization of the Eastern Hemisphere, was now not rising, as it had been before. There were meager harvests, mainly in the 1590s. With the increased demand for resources, which was not controlled because of the abundance before, inflation then became a bigger problem because of the scarcity of resources. Starvation was not uncommon as a result of these events. This was one of the reasons for people moving from farms to towns.
New foods became obtainable such as the tomato, turkey, and spices all from the British colonies.
London grew from 40,000 people to 200,000 in the 1500’s. The merchant class was the most successful profession and helped the economy, which was doing better than ever at the start. As a result of the plague, every person who worked would receive money in return for their services because of the reduced population. Wool became a comm on source of income during this reign. Many Englishmen became apprentices. Because of a flourishing economy, the merchant class soon became wealthy. As a result of the colonization of North America, new wealth (spawning from the natural resources) increased trade.
Land set aside for peasant farms was now used for raising sheep because of high wool demand. Former peasants and others moved to towns to obtain jobs. These land properties were bought and farmed by only several people to make more profitable money.
The rise in population during the 16th century meant that London and all of Great Britain soon became overcrowded. The average person then lived in poverty. The government tried to stop this by introducing new Acts that put the responsibility of the poor on other’s shoulders called the Poor Laws. This did improve the conditions of most, but there were still problems that weighed the standards down.
After Henry VIII (Elizabeth’s father) had gotten rid of most gold and silver coins, Elizabeth I tried to make up for it by making new ones to put into circulation. This meant that the British economy was now even more inflated.
The natural resources, which had been abundant because of the colonization of the Eastern Hemisphere, was now not rising, as it had been before. There were meager harvests, mainly in the 1590s. With the increased demand for resources, which was not controlled because of the abundance before, inflation then became a bigger problem because of the scarcity of resources. Starvation was not uncommon as a result of these events. This was one of the reasons for people moving from farms to towns.
Wool became a source of wealth
Addressing Poverty:
Less people were leaving money in their wills to be donated to the poor and homeless. To help only those who actually needed it, new Acts were made in 1563. Categories were made to spread money to those who needed it and would use it to their benefit and not to harm:
“The Deserving Poor”– The elderly, young children, sickly, and families who were in debt because of change in their situation. Money was supplied to them.
“The Undeserving Poor”– People who were capable of working, but chose to lead a life of crime or choose to beg for a living. They were a menace to the general population and undeserving of government funding.
“The Deserving Unemployed”– This was the last category to be recognized. These people are physically capable of doing labor or a job, but cannot find one.
Laws– The Acts of 1563, 1572, 1576, 1597, and 1601 all addressed the problems of homeless and poor and whether they should have been punished.
One of the ways Queen Elizabeth I was very responsible was she made houses of correction, which incorporated the homeless back into London society.
“The Deserving Poor”– The elderly, young children, sickly, and families who were in debt because of change in their situation. Money was supplied to them.
“The Undeserving Poor”– People who were capable of working, but chose to lead a life of crime or choose to beg for a living. They were a menace to the general population and undeserving of government funding.
“The Deserving Unemployed”– This was the last category to be recognized. These people are physically capable of doing labor or a job, but cannot find one.
Laws– The Acts of 1563, 1572, 1576, 1597, and 1601 all addressed the problems of homeless and poor and whether they should have been punished.
One of the ways Queen Elizabeth I was very responsible was she made houses of correction, which incorporated the homeless back into London society.
Education:
Only boys went to school. Girls learned simple mathematics and reading skills at home. Many schools and colleges were founded. Obtaining books and pamphlets was not just for the wealthy because they were made and sold cheaply.
Architecture:
Commonplace houses: After the medieval architecture, the Tudor style came. Tudor rooms were bigger and brighter. Much glass was used in this time period to brag about the amount of wealth a family owned. Entrances were usually in the center of a building, with it being symmetric. Stone and brick were used more often than timber for the common people; farmers, merchants, and artists. The Renaissance traveled to England very slowly because of the relationship with Catholic Europe, from which most of the Renaissance had already spread to.
Elizabethan Houses: The Longleat House (completed in 1580) in Wiltshire has the common Renaissance look of going outward, while still having classical pilasters, glass, and statues of Roman emperors. This hints of the Renaissance.
Hardwick Hall (built from 1591-1597) in Derbyshire was designed for the Countess of Shrewsbury.
Elizabethan Houses: The Longleat House (completed in 1580) in Wiltshire has the common Renaissance look of going outward, while still having classical pilasters, glass, and statues of Roman emperors. This hints of the Renaissance.
Hardwick Hall (built from 1591-1597) in Derbyshire was designed for the Countess of Shrewsbury.
Hardwick Hall
Longleat House
General Elizabethan House
Arts:
London was the center of culture during this time. Dramatists and poets, like Shakespeare, lived there to become a piece in productions. Entertainment was sought in the form of plays, such as those written by William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, and poems, such as those written by John Donne and Edmund Spenser. The theatre was popular entertainment for all classes because of its low prices.
Some examples of famous playwrites who produced work still reviewed today are Marlowe, Greene, Lyly, Shakespeare, Kyd, and Peele. These playwrights wrote most of the work in the London theatre.
Some examples of famous playwrites who produced work still reviewed today are Marlowe, Greene, Lyly, Shakespeare, Kyd, and Peele. These playwrights wrote most of the work in the London theatre.
References
*All pictures shown above and information used are from these websites:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/elizabeth_i_01.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/architecture_01.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/poverty_01.shtml
http://www.bardweb.net/england.html
http://www.elizabethan.org/compendium/54.html
http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-daily-life.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/architecture_01.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/poverty_01.shtml
http://www.bardweb.net/england.html
http://www.elizabethan.org/compendium/54.html
http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-daily-life.htm