Life in Elizabethan England Flashcards
What were attitudes to poverty in Elizabethan England?
- Poverty increased during Elizabeth’s reign, despite the luxury of court life.
- There was no welfare system, so hardship meant real suffering.
- Poverty was often seen as your own fault – people believed in the ‘Great Chain of Being’, meaning your position in society was God-given.
- Weekly church sermons reinforced the idea that helping the poor could go against God’s will.
- Wealthy people believed the poor should work hard to change their status, not be given help.
What economic and agricultural factors caused poverty to rise during Elizabeth’s reign?
- Rising population (up by 1 million) increased demand for food and goods, pushing up prices.
- Inflation: Prices rose sharply while wages fell, as there were more people competing for jobs.
- Bad harvests in the 1590s led to food shortages and even higher prices.
- Changes in farming: Landowners enclosed fields and raised sheep instead of crops, reducing the need for labour and increasing unemployment.
How did trade and war contribute to rising poverty in Elizabethan England?
- The collapse of the cloth trade, England’s main export, led to mass unemployment in towns.
- Wars with Spain increased government spending, and taxes were raised to cover costs.
- High taxes placed extra pressure on the poor, making it harder for them to survive.
Why did attitudes towards poverty begin to change by the end of Elizabeth’s reign ?
- Fear of rebellion if poor people united against the government.
- Concern that vagabonds and beggars might turn to crime.
- Worries that the poor might spread disease in crowded towns and cities.
- Growing recognition that some poor people (e.g. the elderly or disabled) were not to blame for their situation.
What actions were taken at a local level to address poverty?
- Justices of the Peace were made responsible for helping the poor in their parish.
- Local taxes (the Poor Rate) were collected to support the poor and unemployed.
People were categorised into:
- Impotent poor – unable to work; given limited support.
- Able-bodied poor – physically fit; forced to work or punished to prevent begging.
- The 1572 Vagabonds Act: Vagrants could be whipped, mutilated, or even executed for repeated begging.
What was the significance of the 1601 Poor Law?
- It formalised all previous laws on poor relief.
- Introduced a nationwide Poor Rate system—everyone had to pay to support the poor.
- Those who refused to pay could be jailed.
- begging was banned; beggars were whipped and returned to their birthplace.
- Almshouses were built for the impotent poor (sick, old, disabled).
How successful was Elizabeth in dealing with poverty?
- Early reign: Relative stability and prosperity.
- Later years: Poverty increased due to population growth and bad harvests.
- The Poor Laws of 1601 were a major turning point, showing the government taking responsibility for the poor.
- However, most relief still came from individuals, not the state.
- The 1601 law remained in place for over 200 years, showing its long-lasting impact.
How did Queen Elizabeth I contribute to the growth of the arts during her reign?
- She used patronage to support the arts—especially theatre, music, and art.
- Encouraged the creation of permanent acting companies, e.g. Queen Elizabeth’s Men (1583).
- Promoted Shakespeare’s plays, which supported the Tudor dynasty and monarchy.
- Went on royal progresses, inspiring nobles to build grand houses and host lavish entertainments.
What changes occurred in the Elizabethan theatre?
- Shift from religious plays to secular historical dramas (e.g. Shakespeare’s Richard III).
- Purpose-built theatres with tiered seating made theatre accessible to all social classes.
- Nobles became patrons of acting troupes.
- Theatres became popular social spaces across all ranks of society.
Who opposed the theatre and why?
Puritans: Believed theatre was immoral, influenced by Romans (who persecuted Christians), and encouraged sinful behavior. Believed theatres were the work of the devil, spreading rude and lewd ideas encouraging poor moral behaviour.
Authorities: Feared large crowds, crime, and rebellion. A 1572 law labelled unlicensed actors as “rogues, vagabonds, and sturdy beggars.”
What were typical pastimes for the upper and lower classes?
- Upper class: Intellectual activities—reading classics, playing music, hunting, and hawking.
- Lower class: Social pastimes—drinking in inns, gambling, bear-baiting, cockfighting, cards, dice, and races.
- New habit: Tobacco smoking—expensive but growing in popularity.
- Sporting activities like wrestling, running races, and early football were common.
How did the Renaissance influence theatre during Elizabethan England?
Renaissance Influence: The intellectual and cultural movement that began in Italy during the 14th century spread throughout Europe, including England during Elizabeth’s reign. This led to a flourishing of the arts, including literature, music, and theatre.
Theatre as a Reflection of Society: Drama began to evolve from religious themes to secular ones, with historical plays and comedies becoming popular.
How did playwrights like Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and Ben Jonson contribute to the cultural landscape of Elizabethan England?
Shakespeare: His plays were hugely influential and often supported the monarchy and Tudor dynasty. His works also reflected English history, like Richard III, which portrayed Richard as an evil character, reinforcing Elizabeth’s legitimate claim to the throne.
Christopher Marlowe: Known for his tragic plays like Doctor Faustus and his influence on the development of English drama, Marlowe’s works often explored themes of ambition, power, and human desire.
Ben Jonson: A playwright and poet who was influential in developing comedy, particularly with his plays that satirized social and political life, like Every Man in His Humour.
What were the main contributions of Sir Francis Drake to English exploration during the Elizabethan era?
- First Englishman to circumnavigate the globe (1577-1580).
- Led attacks against the Spanish, including the 1587 raid on Cadiz.
- Played a key role in the Spanish Armada campaign as vice-admiral.
- Brought back gold, silver, and jewels from Spanish territories, enriching England.
- Knighted by Queen Elizabeth and became an admiral.
How did John Hawkins contribute to the English navy and exploration?
- Known for his role in the transatlantic slave trade, capturing Africans for Spanish settlers.
- Designed and developed new types of fighting ships (galleons), which were faster, lighter, and more durable.
- Played a crucial role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada as a vice-admiral.
- His innovative ships contributed to England’s naval successes.
What were Walter Raleigh’s key contributions to English exploration and colonization?
- Obtained a royal charter in 1584 to establish a colony on Roanoke Island (North Carolina).
- Organized two expeditions to settle the colony, but the second group of settlers mysteriously disappeared, making Roanoke known as “The Lost Colony.”
- Contributed to English privateering expeditions against the Spanish.
- Imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1592 but was released and later led a successful naval attack against Spain.
What role did exploration play in Elizabethan England’s expansion of trade and territory?
- Exploration helped open new trade routes, particularly to the Americas and the Spice Islands.
- It enabled England to claim new territories and build trading relationships, reducing dependency on European trade.
- Exploration also fueled rivalry with Spain and Portugal, leading to profitable privateering expeditions.
- English explorers like Drake and Raleigh expanded England’s influence abroad, contributing to the Elizabethan “Golden Age.”
What happened to the settlers at the Roanoke colony established by Walter Raleigh in 1584?
- Raleigh obtained a royal charter to establish a colony on Roanoke Island in 1584.
- The first group of settlers returned home after a year.
- The second group of settlers disappeared, and the reasons for their disappearance are unclear. Possible explanations include them being forced to leave, running away, or lacking food.
- The colony became known as “The Lost Colony” due to the mystery surrounding its fate.
Did Walter Raleigh play a significant role in the Spanish Armada campaign?
No, Raleigh did not play a major role in the Spanish Armada campaign.
While he was involved in exploration and privateering, his contributions were not directly tied to the Armada’s defeat.
What happened during Drake’s voyage (1577–1580)?
- Sir Francis Drake set sail from England in 1577 with five ships, aiming to explore and raid Spanish territories.
- He traveled westward, passing through the Magellan Strait at the southern tip of South America into the Pacific Ocean.
- He raided Spanish ships and settlements, taking treasure like gold and silver.
- Reached the Spice Islands (modern-day Indonesia) and traded for valuable goods like spices.
- Returned to England by sailing across the Indian Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa), and arrived home in 1580—completing a full circumnavigation of the globe.
Why was Drake’s voyage significant to England?
- Proved that England could challenge Spain, the strongest maritime power of the time.
- Strengthened national pride and showed off England’s growing sea power.
- The voyage made Drake a national hero and promoted confidence in English naval strength.
- Queen Elizabeth I knighted Drake in 1581, showing royal approval of his actions.
What were the economic and political effects of the voyage?
- Drake returned with huge amounts of treasure—gold, silver, spices, and jewels.
- The wealth helped boost England’s economy and funded future expeditions.
- His attacks were seen as piracy by Spain, increasing tensions between the two countries.
- It was an early sign of growing conflict, which led to war and the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588.
How did the voyage influence the future of England?
- Showed that England could explore global trade routes, like those used by Spain and Portugal.
- Inspired more English exploration, colonization, and naval investment.
- Helped start the process of building the British Empire, which became one of the largest empires in history.
- Strengthened the idea that England was a rising world power in the late 1500s.
How did Drake’s circumnavigation impact England’s national pride and naval strength?
- The successful voyage proved that England was a serious naval power, capable of long-distance exploration and rivaling Spain.
- It boosted national pride, as Drake became a celebrated hero and a symbol of English courage and ambition.
- The voyage showed that English ships could survive global journeys, helping to build trust in the navy and leading to further investment in shipbuilding.
- This momentum helped prepare England to defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588, just a few years later.
