ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND

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ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND

• The Era of William Shakespeare

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ELIZABETHAN ENGLANDWhat does that mean?

• The period associated with the reign of Queen
  Elizabeth I in England
• Queen Elizabeth ruled for 45 years, from
  1558-1603
• This time period is referred to as The Golden
  Age in English History
• ? England flourished under Queen Elizabeth I

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Who was Queen Elizabeth I?

• She was born in 1533 to King Henry VIII and his
  second wife, Anne Boleyn
• (Henry VIII had 6 wives in total)
• ? Anne Boleyn was beheaded on charges of
  adultery, incest and high treason
• ? King Henry did not want a daughter he wanted
  a son to succeed him in ruling England (which he
  later was given by his 3rd wife, Jane Seymour)
• Elizabeths younger half-brother King Edward
  became King when their father died. He died at
  the age of 15 and was replaced by Mary I (who was
  the daughter of King Henry VIII and his first
  wife, Catherine of Aragon)
• Mary died childless at the age of 42 and was
  replaced by Elizabeth, who was only 25 years old.
  
• She was known as the Virgin Queen because she
  was never married

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The Popular Queen in the Golden Age

• She restored England to excellence at the height
  of the English Renaissance (rebirth)
• This time period saw English literature, poetry
  and theatre flourish and develop. The Queen
  loved the arts!
• Her patronage of the arts encouraged others to
  follow suit!

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Exeunt Queen Elizabeth I

• Elizabeth was well loved by her people and was
  said to rule like a man!
• She died in 1603 at the age of 69 and was
  succeeded by James I of England (the grandson of
  Elizabeths aunt Henrys sister)
• King James I carried on Elizabeths love for
  arts, theatre and culture.

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The Great Chain of Being

• Refers to the Order of the Universe a strict
  hierarchical system
• GodAngelsRoyalty
• Priests/Religious Leaders
• Merchants/ShopkeepersTradesmenFarmersHousehold
  ServantsBeggarsActorsThieves/PiratesGypsiesA
  nimalsBirdsWormsPlantsRocks

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Elizabethan Theatre

• A significant source of entertainment during that
  time
• The theatre was frequented by both the poor and
  the wealthy
• ? The poor stood, while the wealthy sat in the
  galleries
• Men performed only no women!

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The Globe Theatre

• The theatre in London was associated with William
  Shakespeare and his plays
• Held about 3000 people
• It was built in 1599 by Shakespeares playing
  company, the Lord Chamberlains Men but was
  destroyed in a fire in 1613
• A second globe theatre was rebuilt on the site in
  1614 but was closed in 1642.
• In 1997, a modern reconstruction of the Globe was
  built about 250m away from the original location
  and was named Shakespeares Globe

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Family Life

• Families were large children were seen as mini
  adults who were there to help support the entire
  family
• Women were raised to believe they were inferior
  to men and that men knew better!
• Wealthy women were tutored at home and learned
  various languages. Music and dancing were
  essential skills and manners and etiquette were
  of prime importance.
• Lower class women had no formal education and
  their only real career option was MARRIAGE.
• Marriages were frequently arranged to benefit
  both families It was legal for boys to marry at
  14 and girls at 12.
• ? In marriage, a woman became the property of a
  man.
• Disobedience was considered a crime!

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Sanitation

• Londons population was approximately 300,000
• Garbage and waste was thrown out windows into the
  street it stank!
• ? rats and vermin were in abundance, as was the
  spread of disease and flees
• No public toilets, no sewers
• The River Thames was one giant open air sewer
  (garbage, raw sewage, bodily fluids).
• The Queen was thought to be clean as she bathed
  once or twice a year!!

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Crime and Punishment

• Punishment varied according to class
• Most crimes of the nobility included high
  treason, blasphemy, rebellion, murder,
  witchcraft, etc.
• Crimes of the commoners included theft,
  begging, adultery, fraud, etc.
• Hanging, burning to death, torture, whipping and
  being chained to stocks where people could throw
  things at you were accepted practices for
  punishment
• The Tower of London was used in place of
  imprisonment for such acts as treason.
• Executions were rarely private. They were almost
  always in public and watched by thousands to
  demonstrate the guilt of the prisoner and
  enormity of the crime.