Life in Elizabethan times Flashcards
Who held almost all the wealth before Elizabeth’s reign?
Almost all wealth was held by the nobility
People could make money from trade . The gentry grew as a result, and began to fill powerful positions by becoming members of parliament and the justices of peace.
What was going on with fashion at the time?
The wealth of the gentry also helped drive the development of new clothing fashions
Fashion wasn’t important status symbol
The statues of apparel were passed in 1574 - they controlled the clothes people were allowed to wear, depending on their social ranks
Examples of male fashion were the doublet, stockings and trunk hose
Female : petticoats, under gowns
What did the theatre consist of?
- entirely male actors, and playwrights, who could become very popular
A day at the theatre would usually involve a performance that began at 3 pm , the atmosphere was very boisterous, cheap afternoon out for the poor, opportunity for the rich, to show how cultured they were
Why was the theatre so popular?
It was a affordable
New and exciting
A social event
Entertaining
Contemporary and relevant to the time - political messages
What was the opposition to the theatre?
Large gatherings might spread disease
Theatres were dangerous places as they were drunk and crimes
Some saw it as sinful
Puritans saw it as a distraction from prayer
What were the reasons for poverty?
The actions of previous monarchs: many soldiers were left without work as Henry VIII limited the right of nobles to hold private armies, fearing that they might be a threat to his throne
Closure of monasteries - monks nuns church employees were left without homes or work
Changes in agriculture : bad harvest between 1594 and 1598, led to food, shortages and starvation in parts of England = increased prices= inflation
Increasing number of landlords begins to keep sheep on their land rather than grow crops . This meant fewer workers were needed.
Why did the poor increase?
Populations increased from 2.8 million —— 4 million
A shortage of places to live, let landlords who increased rents (rack renting)
What were the attitudes and responses to poverty?
Deserving poor: a great chain of being made it clear to many nobles that they were simply better than the poor
Many believed it was their duty to help those below them in society
They recognise that many paupers could not help their situation, and we’re not to blame for poverty
Charities for the poor grew
Who were the undeserving poor?
Some people were seen as undeserving ——- untrustworthy beggars, who had no interest in honest work
Warnings against vagabonds by Thomas Harmon, published in 1567, encouraged the view, that many poor people were merely confidence thicksters or criminals, others were seen as idle or lazy
What are the examples of vagabonds?
The counterfeit crank: bit soap, so he troth at the mouth —- people would feel sympathy and give him money
The clapper Dudgeon : would cut himself and tie dirty bandages around the wounds for sympathy
What were the earlier attempts to deal with poverty?
From 1495: beggars were punished with stocks, or sent back to their hometowns
From 1531 : beggars were publicly whipped: those caught, a second time would have a whole burned in their ear, they would then be hung
In 1576 : the act for setting the poor in work, placed the responsibility on local authorities
What was the poor law of 1601?
- The wealthy should be taxed to pay for the care of the sick and vulnerable
- Fit and healthy paupers should be given work
- Those who refused work were dealt with harshly - whipped or placed in a house of correction
How effective were the 1601 poor laws?
It wasn’t properly enforced in many areas — begging seem to decrease, but this may have been due to the threat of the house of correction
Some historians argue that the law was unsuccessful because it made each area responsible for its own poor
Some simply sent from one place to another without receiving any help
Who was Sir Francis Drake?
- most famous English explorer and privateer
- Hated Spain
- Puritan- hated Spanish Catholicism
- In 1572, he captured £40,000 worth of Spanish silver when he has attacked Spanish treasure ships, as well as capturing the Spanish port Nombre de Dios in Panama
- the Spanish referred to him as el Draque
- circumnavigation financed by court - Elizabeth - Cecil
- by supporting Drakes activities they risked war with Spain
Who was John Hawkins?
- in the 1560s made three voyages to the Caribbean, trading slaves he had captured in west Africa with the Spanish colonies
-made large amounts of money - Hawkins clashed with Spanish on his last voyage and lost many men and ships
- cousin of sir Francis Drake
