Chapter 3 Elizabethan society in the Age of Exploration, 1558-88 Flashcards
What were the changing influences on education ?
- Humanists argued for the importance of education meaning educational opportunities gradually improved during Elizabeth’s reign.
- Protestants argued that people ought to be able to study the scriptures. This required people to be able to read, boosting literacy.
- The growth of the printing press meant books became less expensive, giving people more opportunities to read.
What were Parish schools ?
Set up locally by the Church and run by the clergy. Taught basic literacy to the children of yeoman farmers and craftsmen.
What age range were Parish schools for ?
up to age 10
What did the Elizabeth education consist of ?
- Petty schools
- Private tutors
- Grammar schools
- Parish schools
- Universities
What were Petty schools?
Run privately from people’s homes. Attended by children of the gentry, merchants, yeoman farmers and craftsmen
What were grammar schools ?
They were schools that provided an education independently of the Church and charged fees, although scholarships were available for poorer families.
Who attended grammar schools ?
Attended by the children of the gentry, merchants, yeoman farmers and craftsmen.
Who were grammar schools for?
Boys
Who were private tutors typically for?
Delivered education privately to members of the nobility, who often finished their education in the household of another noble family.
What education did girls receive ?
Many girls received no formal education at all as it was felt that they would not need it. Girls from better off families attended Dame Schools run by wealthy women in their homes. Wealthy girls had private tutors.
What were the changes in education in 1558-88?
- New grammar schools : this meant children were now educated independently of the Church.
Scholarships allowed people from poorer backgrounds to receive an education. - Literacy improved ( especially in the towns ) : This was the combined result of the printing press, parish schools and the need to read the scriptures.
What age range were grammar schools for?
for boys aged 10 to 14
How were universities in Elizabethan England ?
In Elizabethan England there were two universities Oxford and Cambridge. There you studied geometry, music, astronomy, philosophy, logic and rhetoric (persuasive speaking used in law), medicine, law and divinity. The highest possible university qualification was the doctorate
What age range were universities for?
ages 14 to 15 onwards
What did the nobility do during their leisure/pastime?
- Hunting
- Fishing
- Real Tennis
- Bowls
- Fencing
What was hunting ? For women or men?
Took place on horseback with hounds or with birds (hawking).
Involved men and women.
What was fishing ? For women or men?
ITS FISHING BRO :0 , Done by men and women.
What was real tennis ? For women or men?
Played indoors (men only). A cross between modern tennis and squash that was increasingly popular.
What was bowls? For women or men?
Similar to the modern game (men only).
What was fencing ? For women or men?
Undertaken with blunted swords (men only).
What was football ? For women or men?
Men only. The aim was to get the ball into the other side’s goal, although the rules varied. No limit on the numbers involved or the size of the pitch. Could be very violent - men were often killed during matches
What was wrestling ? For women or men?
Men of all classes took part in public wrestling matches with people gambling on the outcome.
What did farmers, craftsmen and the lower class do during their leisure/pastime?
- Football
- Wrestling
What were the spectator sports in Elizabeth England?
- Baiting
- Cock-fighting
What was Baiting ?
A spectator sport that involved watching animals fight to the death. Typically, dogs were encouraged to attack chained bears and bulls, and bets were made on the outcomes of fights.
What was cock-fighting ?
A spectator sport were cockerels attacked each other using metal spurs and their beaks. In many small towns,
special arenas were built for cock-fighting. Money was bet on the outcomes of these fights.
Name two features of literature in Elizabethan England ?
- A lot of new literature was written during Elizabeth’s reign, although medieval literature, such as Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, remained popular.
Theatres of theatres ?
- Mystery Plays, popular with many Catholics, were replaced with new non-religious (secular) plays. These were shown in purpose-built theatres, such as the Red Lion and the Rose.
- Comedies, performed by teams of professional players funded by wealthy noblemen, were very popular. Sponsors included the queen and the Earl of Leicester, and their performers were known as Queen’s Men and Leicester’s Men,
- All social classes attended the theatre, so purpose-built theatres had to be built to accommodate growing audiences.
Name two features of music in Elizabethan England ?
- Many Elizabethans played instruments, including lutes (similar to guitars), spinets and harpsichords (similar to pianos).
- Musical performances were popular.
- Musicians were paid to play at official functions or public events.
- Music was also played at fairs and markets, or on public occasions. Wealthy families employed their own musicians (always men) to play during meals and feasts.
- Music was also written to accompany plays performed in public theatres.
Features of dancing ?
- Dancing remained a popular pastime, as it brought together men and women, although the upper and lower classes did not dance together.
What type of people were poor ? Why?
- Widows or women abandoned by their husbands and their families, as women were paid very little.
- The sick and the elderly who were incapable of work.
- People on low wages.
- Itinerants, vagrants and vagabonds
What were the reasons for poverty in Elizabethan England ?
-Bad harvets
- Decrease in cloth tarde ( was hte main export, due to no longer trading with spian led to decline indemand and therfore unemployemnt due to it being a large industry )
- Sheep farming
- Enclosure
- Increasing demand for land.
Explain how bad harvests led to poverty in England ?
Harvests were particularly bad in the 1590s leading to even higher demand and more rising prices.
How did sheep farming lead to poverty ?
- The growth of the wool trade meant that many farmers preferred to near sheep, rather than grow food.
- Additionally, it required less labour than arable farming ( A sheep did not need much looking after other than at lambing and shearing times )
explain how enclosure led to poverty ?
- Land was divided into fields ( replaced open fields with individual ones )
- This denied people use of common land (land that could be used by everyone), which meant they were unable to provide for their families
- It led to tenant farmers being evicted and also normal labourers became unemployed
- Less food was made since it was done for sheep farming