Early Elizabethan society Flashcards
What was the general structure of society?
The monarch was at the top as the most important member of nobility.
Your place=determined by how much land you had. You owed respect,obidence.
How were Elizabeth households run?
A husband/father was the head of household. Wife,children,servants=expected obidence.
What was the hierarchy in the countryside?
90% of England’s population lived and worked countryside. Yeomen had small amount of land or estate. Gentry tenant farmers rented land
Why was a social structure needed?
Elizabethan England=violent and dangerous place. No police just army.
What was the hierarchy in towns?
Towns= hierarchy was based on wealth+occupation. Wealthy merchant=professionals. e.g
Lawyers. Skilled craftsmen=carpenters and unskilled labours = bottom.
What was the religion at the time?
Religion- Elizabeth’s half brother Edward= strict Protestants - rid of many catholic traditions. Mary 1= strict catholic made country catholic. Elizabeth = Protestant.
How did the craftsman organise themselves?
Craftsmen,silversmith,tailors,blacksmith and carpenters organise into guilds. Guilds= trade associations monitored Standsrd working condition.
What was the average age of death in 1558?
16 in 1558 outlived atleast 21% born in the same year as you. Average expantacy = 28-44. Low life expectancy due to ignorance about medical treatments,high infant mortality and high no. of executions.
