Elizabethans - Popular Culture Flashcards
1
Q
Elizabethan England a Golden Age of culture. Arguments For
A
- Some wonderful works of art were produced in England duirng the period 1580-1603
- Beautiful music composed e.g William Byrd and Thomas Tallis
- After 1580 the development of printing and the growth of education led to brilliant literature e.g William Shakespeare
2
Q
Was Elizabethan England a Golden Age of culture? Arguments Against
A
- Most art in Elizabethan England was foreign
- Sports like cock-fighting and bear-bating were played
- Football was popular but dangerous
- Only the rich were the ones that typically wrote because they tended to be the only educated ones. Writing was not easily accesible to everyone
- It was illegal for women to do music and earn money
3
Q
Who was the case study for a witch? + info
A
- Ursula Kemp
- Ursula Kemp did not believe that she was a witch
- Ursula was found guilty of causing death by witchcraft and was hanged
- She was accused by neighbours and her illegitimate eight year old son testified against her
- She was hung in 1582
4
Q
Village tensions were behind the rise of witchcraft accusations. Arguments for
A
- Some people might say that village tensions because of hardship lay behind the increase in accusations of witchcraft.
- People were less willing to give charity to their poorer neighbours.
- If a woman cursed them as she left, and this was followed by some misfortune, they might accuse her of witchcraft
- Surviving records demonstrates that the most accusations originated with a complaint from neighbours
- In the southwest of England there were 106 cases in the 1570s, 166 in the 1580s and 128 in the 1590s. This coincided with a time of growing population and economic hardship
5
Q
Village tensions were behind the rise of witchcraft accusations. Arguments against
A
- There was geographic differences across the country. During Elizabeth’s reign. In Essex there were 172 witchcraft trials but only 24 in the neighbouring county of Hertfordshire.
6
Q
The rise of witchcraft accusations was due to misogyny and an attack on women. Arguments for
A
- All jurors and magistrates who tried witchcraft cases were men.
- Evidence of misogyny in Elizabethan England for example it was illegal for a woman to play music and make money from it
- 90 per cent of those accused of witchcraft were women
7
Q
The rise of witchcraft accusations was due to misogyny and an attack on women. Arguments against
A
- Many of the people making accusations of witchcraft were women
- For example Grace Thurlow made an official complaint against Ursula Kemp to the local JP
8
Q
The rise of witchcraft accusations was due to puritan concerns. Arguments for
A
- Accusations were particularly high in the southwest of England and especially in Essex where Puritans had a lot of influence
- As protestantism became more established, religious people were concerned about the devil which increased witchcraft prosecutions
9
Q
The rise of witchcraft accusations was due to puritan concerns. Arguments agaisnt
A
- Very few accusations were led by the government or the Church of England
10
Q
Who were the oppostion to theatres?
A
- The London authorities
- Puritan Preachers
11
Q
Why were London’s mayor and aldermen against theatres?
A
- Drew servants and apprentices away from their work
- It drew people away from attending seromons and other religious services
- Attracted rogues, thieves and prostitutes
- In a letter from the Lord Mayor and the alderman of London to the Privy Council in July 1597 it says that the theatres caused ‘great damage to the trade and religion of this realm’
12
Q
Why were Puritans against theatres?
A
- Puritan preachers didn’t like theatres.
- Theatre originated in ancient times so the Puritans associated plays with paganism
- There were many other activities associated with theatre that lead people into sin e.g pick-pocketting, prostitution
- In an extract from The Anatomy of Abuses, by the puritan preacher, Philip Stubbs, 1583 it says ‘Do they not maintain vulgarity foolishness and remind people of false religions? Do they not encourage prostitution and uncleanliness?’
13
Q
How succesful was opposition against theatres?
A
- Elizabeth’s Privy Council generally ignored the protests of the authorities and the Puritans.
- The Queen and her councillors enjoyed watching plays at court, and protected London’s new theatres
14
Q
What lay behind the decline in popular festivities?
A
- The Puritans
- The people behind t he decline in popular customs and festivities were the Puritan ministers who began to gain control of some parishes during Elizabeth’s reign
15
Q
What were the concerns of the Puritans concerning popular festivals?
A
- Sabbath Day of rest: Puritans thought that Sundays should be for rest and prayer. They were particularly keen to stop people dancing, drinking and doing other activities on the Lord’s day
- Catholic practices: Puritans didn’t like some popular customs because they were associated to the Catholic Church which had existed in England before the Protestant Reformation
- Stopping pagan practices: Some popular festivities such as Christmas candles, feasting, mumming, maypoles and Midsummer bonfires could be traced back to pagan times. The Puritans felt they were inappropriate for Christian communities
- Preventing disorder: Sometimes unruly crowds at popular festivities became violent and disorderly. The Puritans were concerned about this as they were trying to create orderly Godly communities
- Preventing unwanted pregnancies: Puritan ministers complained that dancing and drunkenness could lead people to the sin of sex outside of marriage
