Elizabethan England: Life in Elizabethan Times Flashcards
(12 cards)
RECAP: Why did the gentry grow?
The dissolution of monasteries left lots of land up for grabs.
A growth in trade also helped.
Why did research, literature and exploration flourish in Elizabethan times?
The gentry used their newfound wealth to sponsor projects.
(Gentry funded exploration, which created trade, which funded the gentry)
What does the design of the Elizabethan Theatre show about Elizabethan times?
- The hierarchical structure of the theatre rerpresented the ‘great chain of being’
1. The pit, which cost 1p, represented the very bottom of society.
2. The three-tiered galleries housed 2000 spectators and represented the varied wealth of the gentry, who could spend an extra penny on a cushion.
3. The wealthiest members could watch from above the stage or on the stage itself, reflecting the nobility and the royal court.
How did Elizabeth control plays?
- Royal Patronage meant a theatre company was hired to perform at a royal court. This was very sought after, and made plays more likely to try and flatter Elizabeth/ push her message.
- For example, Richard III had a very positive view of the Tudors. It depicted Elizabeth’s grandfather as a saviour of the nation.
How did Elizabeth establish a cult of personality?
- Visual and literary propaganda was rewarded
- For example, Edmund Spenser, poet of The Faerie Queene got a £50/year pension for life.
- Portraits portrayed her as a pure, wise Queen.
How many in Elizabethan society:
* Owned no land,
* Spent 80% of their income on food and drink.
About half of all families.
What were some key causes of Elizabethan Poverty?
- Population rose 43% from 1550 to 1600
- Wages stayed the same as food prices rose.
- Spanish exploration tanked the value of silver
- The trade of woollen cloth to Antwerp was banned by the Spanish for the 60s,70s and 80s, and the market had collapsed anyway in the 50s.
- Many open fields were converted to enclosed spaces to farm sheep, which made more money.
How did Elizabethans group the poor?
- Impotent poor: too young/old/sick to work, deserved sympathy
- Idle poor: too lazy to work, dishonest vagabonds. Deserved to be attacked on the streets.
What are some pro-poor examples of Poor Laws?
What did they do?
Probably best to pick a few key ones
Positive:
* The Poor Law, 1563 Act:
1. Some poor were ‘Deserving poor’ (aka impotent poor). They were to be provided with relief such as food and money.
2. Some poor were ‘Deserving unemployed’, who could wok but couldn’t find a job. They were cared for in alms houses, or given apprenticeships if young.
* The Poor Law, 1572 Act:
1. It was now compulsory for everyone who owned land in a parish to donated to relief of the poor in their parish.
2. JPs collected and distributed these funds.
* Poor Law, 1976 Act:
Each town was now reqired to find work for the unemployed.
What are some anti-poor examples of Poor Laws?
What did they do?
- The Poor Law: 1563 Act:
Some poor were ‘Underserving poor’, such as those who had chosen crime and begging. They were to face harsh punishment, for example being beaten through the streets until they were out of their parish. - The Poor Law, 1572 Vagabonds Act:
For those who were over 14, the first 3 instances of begging resulted in the following punishments:
1-2: Whipped through the streets, hole bored though ear.
3: Executed.
For under 14s without a license: whipping only.
Who was Walter Raleigh?
- Born 1554, rose rapidly to become a favourite of Elizabeth.
- Introduced potatoes and tobacco to England
- Was an MP 4 times from 1585-1601
- Set up Virginia, it failed.
- Executed under Spanish pressure in 1618.
Who was Sir Francis Drake?
- Strict Puritan
- Became a famous privateer after he returned from a very successful voyage in 1572 with many stolen goods.
- Circumnavigated the world in 1577-1580, Stole many Spanish goods.
- Knighted 1581
