Life in Elizabethan England Flashcards
(76 cards)
1
Q
What was the general attitude to education at the beginning of Elizabeth’s reign?
A
The purpose of education was to help people prepare for their expected roles in life, so only the rich needed a formal education. The vast majority of the population only needed practical skills.
2
Q
What percentage of the population could read and write at the beginning of Elizabeth’s reign?
A
15-20%
3
Q
What four reasons prompted the growing importance of education?
A
- Humanists and philosophers
- Protestants
- Growth of trade
- The printing press
4
Q
How did Humanists influence attitudes towards education?
A
These philosophers argued that education was valuable, not just for preparing people for their expected roles in life. Due to their influence, educational opportunities gradually improved under Elizabeth’s reign.
5
Q
How did Protestants boost the growth of education?
A
They argued that people should be able to study scriptures which required people to be able to read, thus boosting literacy.
6
Q
How did growing trade boost the importance of education?
A
Trade required ordinary people to read, write and understand mathematics so they could record transactions properly.
7
Q
How did the printing press change attitudes toward education?
A
As the printing press developed, books became less expensive and more available to the lower classes. This gave people more opportunities to read.
8
Q
What are five features of Elizabethan education?
A
- Parish schools
- Private tutors
- Grammar schools
- Petty schools
- Universities
9
Q
What were Parish schools?
A
- They were set up by the local Church and run by the Clergy
- Taught basic literacy to children of yeomen and farmers
- Children were up to 10 years old
10
Q
What were Grammar schools?
A
- Provided education independently and charged fees, although poorer families could get scholarships
- Aimed at boys aged 10-14
- Mainly attended by the children of Gentry, Craftsmen and Yeomen
- Taught the Bible, Latin, Greek and Philosophy
11
Q
What were Petty schools?
A
- Run privately from people’s homes
- Attended by the children of Gentry, Craftsmen and Yeomen
- Children were up to 10 years old
12
Q
What was the role of private tutors?
A
- Delivered education to members of nobility
- The nobles’ education was then finished in another household of a noble family
13
Q
What were Universities?
A
- Aimed at boys 14 onwards
- Taught medicine, philosophy, astronomy, geometry, law, music and more
- The highest possible qualification was a Doctorate
14
Q
What two universities were there in Elizabethan England?
A
- The University of Cambridge
- The University of Oxford
15
Q
What was education like for girls?
A
Many girls received no formal education as it was believed the did not need it. Girls from better-off families attended Dame Schools or had private tutors. These were run by wealthy women in their homes.
16
Q
What did leisure in Elizabethan England depend on?
A
Where your class was within the societal hierachy.
17
Q
What pastimes did members of the noblility have?
A
- Hunting
- Real Tennis
- Fencing
18
Q
What did hunting include?
A
It took place on horseback with hounds or trained birds (hawking). It involved both men and women.
19
Q
What was Real Tennis?
A
An early form of tennis with elements of modern-day squash. Participants (men only) played the game indoors.
20
Q
What was Fencing?
A
It was a sport undertaken by men only. It involved fighting with blunted swords.
21
Q
What leisure activities did farmers, craftsmen and the lower class partake in?
A
- Football
- Wrestling
22
Q
What did fooball involve?
A
It was a men only game, aiming to get the ball into the other side’s goal. There was no limit on the number of players involved. Often matches were very violent and men were sometimes killed.
23
Q
What was wrestling?
A
Men of all classes took part in public wrestling matches with people gambling on the outcome.
24
Q
What ‘spectator sports’ were there in Elizabethan England?
A
- Baiting: watching chained animals such as bears fight to death against bulls and dogs
- Cock-fighting: where cockerels attacked each other in arenas using metal spurs and their beaks
25
Why were 'spectator sports' so popular?
People could make bets on the outcomes of these fights which could earn them money.
26
How did literature evolve under Elizabeth's reign?
Exploration in the Americas inspired many writers and explorers (like Raleigh) to document their discoveries. Medieval literature such as the Chaucer's Canterbury Tales remained popular.
27
How did the nobility indulge in theatre?
Wealthy noblemen often funded comedies. Sponsors included the Queen and the Earl of Leicester who owned a theatre called Leicester's Men.
28
Why did theatre become so popular?
It was available to all classes; the lower classes stood near the stage while the upper class paid for expensive seats with the best views.
29
What theatres were there?
* The Red Lion
* The Rose
* The Globe
30
How did music and dancing grow in popularity?
* Musicians performed at fairs, taverns, churches and on the streets
* Many Elizabethans could play instruments such as harpischords and lutes
31
How did music and dancing remain divided hierarchically?
The wealthy employed their own musicians and the upper and lower classes never danced together.
32
What was poverty classified as during Elizabeth's reign?
* Spending more than 80% of your income on bread
* Being unemployed or ill
* Needing financial help
33
What types of people were poor?
* Widows
* Sick
* Elderly
* Orphans
* Vagabonds
34
Who were vagabonds?
The homeless or unemployed. They were resented as they often lied and stole and were seen as lazy and responsible for their own problems.
35
What were reasons for poverty in Elizabethan England?
1. Sheep farming
2. Population growth
3. Economic recession
36
How did sheep farming increase poverty?
The growth of wool trade meant farmers preferred to rear sheep than food. This required large amounts of enclosed land for arable farming. This drove many people off common land, leaving them homeless and unable to hunt for food.
37
How did population growth exacerbate poverty?
This increased demand for food (driving up prices) while increasing the labour supply (driving down wages). Furthermore, as the population increased more people needed land which increased rents so much that tenants could no longer afford it.
38
How did the English population grow over 50 years?
1551: 3 million people
1601: 4.2 million people
39
How did economic recession worsen poverty in Elizabethan England?
Recession was caused by trade embargos involving Spanish rule in the Netherlands. As a result, people in these industries became unemployed and fell into poverty.
40
What were a few reasons for changing attitudes towards the poor?
* Problems became increasingly worse and more visible within society
* The cost of dealing with the poor
* Fear that poverty could lead to rebellions
41
What two categories did the Elizabethans use to distinguish between the poor?
1. The deserving/ impotent poor: those who could not help themselves
2. Idle/ undeserving poor: those who could work but chose not to
42
How did the authorities deal with poverty?
1. Charities and the poor rate
2. Statute of Artficers and the Poor Relief Act
3. Vagabonds Act
43
What was the role of charities and the 'poor rate'?
The 'poor rate' was a local tax organised by JPs where proceeds were given as money or things to make and sell for the poor. Charities were funded by local wealthy people to also help the poor.
44
What was the Statute of Artificers?
When those refusing to pay the poor rates could be put in prison. Furthermore, officials who failed to organise the poor relief could be fined.
45
When was the Statute of Artificers passed?
1563
46
What was the Poor Relief Act?
JPs had to provide the poor with wool and other materials so they could make and sell things. The poor who refused to do so were sent to prisons known as Houses of Correction.
47
When was the Poor Relief Act passed?
1576
48
What did the 1572 Vagabonds Act do?
Vagrants were whipped and a hole was drilled through their ear as a mark of shame. If they were arrested for vagrancy again, they could be imprisoned or hung. It also introduced the national poor rate to provide support and money for the impotent poor.
49
What four factors led to the growth of exploration?
1. Expanding trade
2. Adventure
3. New technology
4. Private investment
50
Why did expanding trade prompt exploration?
Trade was expanding quickly in the New World, however English merchants needed new trading opportunities as war with Spain and the Netherlands had damaged the wool and cloth trades. Therefore, they needed to find new markets and products to sell.
51
Why did the sense of adventure cause exploration to rise?
Men such as Francis Drake undertook voyages of discovery. They published embellished accounts of their exploration which persuaded others to venture into the unknown in hopes of finding treasures and becoming rich.
52
How did new technology encourage the growth of exploration?
* The development of nautical devices like astrolabes and quadrants made voyages faster, safer and precise
* The Mercator Map of 1569 gave sailors and traders greater confidence in their routes, significantly reducing the risk in undertaking voyages
53
Why did private investment increase exploration?
* Private investors like Elizabeth I and her courtiers funded many voyages
* Although this was extremely risky, the reward was massive and it increased incomes for the Crown and nobility
54
What was the triangular trade?
Trade John Hawkins discovered that iron goods and guns could be sold in West Africa to buy slaves. These slaves were sold in the New World in exchange for spices and tobacco, which would then be sold in Europe. This formed a trading triangle between Europe, West Africa and South America.
55
What years did Drake circumnavigate the globe between?
1577 - 1580
56
What were three reasons why Drake circumnavigated the globe?
* He was given private orders by Elizabeth to attack Spanish colonies
* Profit - looting and trade meant that his voyages were very lucrative so much so that people were willing to invest in his journeys like Elizabeth I
* Drake wanted revenge after the Spanish had attacked his fleet and killed most of his men
57
How was Drake's circumnavigation of the globe responsible for the declining Anglo-Spanish relations?
Drake had looted many Spanish colonies and secured England's claim to rule in North America. Moreover, the knighting of Drake on the Golden Hind by Elizabeth only angered King Philip of Spain more and was the final insult that made war inevitable.
58
How did Drake's voyages directly impact the position of Elizabeth I?
Elizabeth was shown as a strong ruler with one of the world's best naval forces. It also boosted England's global reputation abroad, creating new trading opportunities in China, India and West Africa.
59
How did Drake's actions lead to England acquring new colonies?
During his expedition, Drake claimed Nova Albion (an area near San Franciso) as English territory with Elizabeth as its queen. This made trade easier with the New World as it was a lot closer and also established England as a growing power.
60
Who was Sir Walter Raleigh?
A nobleman and explorer during Elizabeth's reign.
61
Why was Walter Raleigh important to Elizabeth?
In 1584, Elizabeth gave Raleigh a grant to explore and settle lands in North America. His aim was to raise moeny to fund the mission to Virginia and also encourage people to settle there.
62
What were the reasons for Virginia being colonised?
* Better trade
* Anglo-Spanish relations
* New voyages
63
Why was trade a driving factor behind the colonisation of Virginia?
Colonists were able to barter ironware, wool and knives in return for gold and other commodities that could be sold at a profit. The new colony could also produce crops like sugar cane and tobacco which could be brought back to England. This also reduced England's dependence on imports.
64
Why was Virginia an important place for England's relations with Spain?
Virginia would provide a base to attack Spanish colonies and settlements. This would provide considerable loot and booty and would also demonstrate to native tribes that the English were a better alternative to the Spanish.
65
Why was exploration a factor in the colonistation of Virginia?
A settlement in North America would make it easier to fund other voyages and provide easier access to the New World.
66
Why did organising the voyage to Virginia take so long?
* Food and fresh water had to be obtained
* Raleigh had to put together a crew of people each with different skills
* Tools and equipment to sow crops
* Weapons to protect themselves
67
How many men set out to Virginia?
A team of 107 men made up of soldiers, farmers, sailors and craftsmen.
68
When did the expedition to Virginia take place and where did they arrive?
In 1585 setting out for Roanoke, Virginia.
69
How many groups of colonists were sent to Virginia?
2
70
Who was the leader of voyage to Roanoke, Virginia?
Richard Grenville.
71
What were four reasons why the colonisation of Virginia failed?
1. Lack of food
2. Poor leadership and lack of skills
3. Native American attack
4. War with Spain
72
How did lack of food contribute to the failure to colonise Virginia?
* Colonists left England too late plant crops in Virginia
* One of their five ships was flooded with seawater, ruining the food it was carrying
* As a result, many abandoned the colony in 1586 and others were dependent on local Indian tribes
73
Why did lack of skills and poor leadership lead to Greenville's failure?
* Richard Greenville did not get on with the second leader which later abandoned the voyage
* The men were poorly skilled: some lacked physical strength whereas others couldn't farm well
* Both expeditions were doomed from the start as they had little purpose
74
How did Native American attack seal the fate of the expedition to Virginia?
* Angered by the demands for food and the diseases the settler had brought, Algonquian Chief Wingina led and attack on the colonists supported by other tribes
* This forced the first expeditionists to abandon Roanoke
* The attack led to colonists in the second expedition to become slaves or part of the local tribes
75
How did the war with Spain contribute to the failure to colonise Virginia?
* From 1585, England was effectively at war with Spain
* The threat from the Armada meant that few ships and supplies were available to colonists
* Colonists were isolated and vulnerable to attack
76
What was the significance of the Raleigh's attempted colonisation of Virginia?
Served as a template for future settlements. By the end of the 17th century, England had established 13 colonies with their own system of government in the New World.
