exploration and elizabethan society Flashcards
(22 cards)
What was daily life like for peasants in Elizabethan England?
Challenging, marked by hard agricultural labour and poor living conditions. Diets were poor, primarily consisting of bread, pottage, and occasional meat.
How did the nobility in Elizabethan England live?
They enjoyed luxury, with grand feasts, elaborate clothing, and significant political influence due to their wealth and vast estates.
What characterized the gentry class in Elizabethan England?
Comfortable life, owned smaller estates, involved in local government and trade, valued education, and maintained social status through strategic marriages.
What is the ‘Great Chain of Being’?
A religious-based hierarchy that includes: God, Angels, Human beings, Animals, Plants.
What are the subsections of the human section in the ‘Great Chain of Being’?
- The monarch
- The nobility
- The gentry
- Peasants
What was the role of the ‘Great Chain of Being’ in Elizabethan society?
Enforced social structure and prevented instability in England.
What were the benefits of being a member of the nobility?
- High income (average £6,000 a year)
- Titles granted by the monarch
- Inherited land
- Protection from torture
What was the average income of a member of the nobility in Elizabethan England?
£6,000 a year (approximately £1 million today).
What was the income range for members of the gentry in Elizabethan England?
Between £10 and £2,000 a year.
What motivated the growth of the gentry class in Elizabethan England?
Increase in trade during the period.
Name three influential members of the gentry in Elizabethan court.
- William Cecil
- Christopher Hatton
- Francis Walsingham
What was the Renaissance’s impact on exploration during the Elizabethan period?
Encouraged new thinking, adventure, and wealth-driven exploration.
What navigational tools improved during the Renaissance?
- Maps
- Astrolabes
- Quadrants
What were some factors that encouraged Elizabethan exploration?
- Trade
- Wealth
- Adventure
- New routes
- Trade with Asia
What was the purpose of explorers seeking new routes during the Elizabethan period?
To find a new passage to the Far East, specifically the North-West Passage.
Who was Sir Walter Raleigh?
A favourite of Elizabeth I, known for colonising lands and attempting to establish Roanoke.
What was the outcome of Raleigh’s attempt to colonise Roanoke?
The colonisation failed; the colonists disappeared.
Who was John Hawkins and what was his significance?
A successful merchant and military leader influential in establishing the Royal Navy and the slave trade.
What was Sir Francis Drake known for?
A successful privateer, explorer, and military leader who circumnavigated the globe.
What motivated Sir Francis Drake’s circumnavigation of the world?
- Personal vengeance against Spain
- Political factors
- Wealth
- Fame
What were the impacts of exploration on England?
- Increased wealth
- Demonstrated naval power
- Introduced new technology to the navy
- Progressed English ship design
What advancements were made in ship design during the Elizabethan period?
- Larger and more reliable galleons
- Improved sails and masts
- Placement of cannons along the ship
