Elizabethan England: Life in Elizabethan Times

Question 1

RECAP: Why did the gentry grow?

Answer 1

The dissolution of monasteries left lots of land up for grabs.
A growth in trade also helped.

Question 2

Why did research, literature and exploration flourish in Elizabethan times?

Answer 2

The gentry used their newfound wealth to sponsor projects.
(Gentry funded exploration, which created trade, which funded the gentry)

Question 3

What does the design of the Elizabethan Theatre show about Elizabethan times?

Answer 3

• 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.

Question 4

How did Elizabeth control plays?

Answer 4

• 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.

Question 5

How did Elizabeth establish a cult of personality?

Answer 5

• 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.

Question 6

How many in Elizabethan society:
* Owned no land,
* Spent 80% of their income on food and drink.

Answer 6

About half of all families.

Question 7

What were some key causes of Elizabethan Poverty?

Answer 7

• Population rose 43% from 15509 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.

Question 8

How did Elizabethans group the poor?

Answer 8

• 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.