part 2 life in Elizabethan times Flashcards
give the order of the great chain of being
- god
- queen/king
- nobility
- gentry
- peasantry
- animals/plants
describe who the nobility were
- most powerful and wealthy people
- titles past from father to son
- held most senior positions E.G privy council
describe who the gentry were
- often wealthy landowners
- held important positions E.G JP
- might be richer but still below nobles in society
describe who peasants were
- poorest members of society
- farm labourers
- often struggled for work
what was the rise of the gentry
- before Elizabeth’s reign, almost all wealth was held by the nobility
- the stability that the Elizabethan period brought changed this
- people could make money from trade
- the gentry grew as a result of this and filled up powerful positions
what was Hardwick hall
- Bess of Hardwick known as Elizabeth Shrewsbury built it between 1590 and 1597
- one of the grandest houses in Elizabethan England and a way to show her wealth + position
in what ways did the homes of the gentry change
- no longer for defence but to show refined taste
- usually symmetrical with open courtyards, unlike the closed secure ones that went before
- lots of expensive glass windows to show owners wealth
- medieval great hall replaced by a great chamber
- privacy: number of rooms increased, separating servants from owners
describe the roles of writers, actors and theatre troupes with the theatre in Elizabethan England
- playwrights like Shakespeare produced new works every year including comedies, histories and tragedies
- acting was an entirely male profession
- popular actors like Richard Burbage became very famous and would return to roles or have plays written for them
- works were performed by theatre troupes such as Lord Chamberlains men
- companies were named after the people who provided funding
describe the physical attributes of the theatre
- the galleries: seated, covered areas for the rich
- roof: over the stage, often called the heavens, roped and rigging were used for some scene changes and dramatic entrances
- lords room: most expensive seats, sometimes used by actors and musicians during performances
- gentlemen’s room: balconies on either side
- stage: often decorated with scenery and always a trapdoor for special effects
- pit: where ordinary people stood to watch often heckling the actors
what was a day at the theatre like
- performances generally began at 3pm and continued to the evening
- the ticket price depended on where you sat
- audience members would push and shove to get a better view
- a cheap afternoon out for the poor and an opportunity for the rich to show off
- although the rich and poor occupied different parts of the theatre they watched the same play
why was the theatre so popular
- it was affordable
- it was new and exciting
- it was a social event
- it was entertaining
- it was contemporary and relevant to the time, some carried a political message
what were the oppositions to the theatre
- puritans saw theatregoing as a distraction from prayer
- some saw it as sinful
- there were concerns that large gatherings might spread disease
- theatres were dangerous places where there was drunkenness, crime and other immoral behaviour
what were the 8 accomplishments of the golden age
- art
- peace, power and pride
- science and technology
- exploration
- education
- theatre
- buildings
- literature
how was art an accomplishment of the golden age
- portraits - including detailed miniature ones - became very popular and often contained symbolism
- decorative silverware and textiles became important signs of wealth and culture in the homes of the rich
how was peace, power and pride an accomplishment of the golden age
- before the tudors there was conflict over the throne
- the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I brought political stability but religious turmoil
- England’s growing wealth and military success made many of Elizabeth’s subjects very proud
how was science and technology an accomplishment of the golden age
- significant breakthroughs in navigation, astronomy and a growing understanding of magnetism
- improved printing presses allowed new ideas to be spread quickly
how was exploration an accomplishment of the golden age
- Europeans discovered new lands and new peoples
- England became a major power in the world
how was education an accomplishment of the golden age
- seen as increasingly important
- wealthy boys and some girls received an education, but the poor did not
how was theatre an accomplishment of the golden age
- theatre became popular with all levels of society
- the first permanent theatres were built
how were buildings an accomplishment of the golden age
- many great stately homes, such as Hardwick hall, were built
- for the first time houses were not built with defence in mind
how was literature an accomplishment of the golden age
- many great plays were written during Elizabeth’s reign and are still performed today
- poetry was very popular, many nobles wrote poetry and some, such as Shakespeare wrote sonnets
what were some negatives about the ‘golden age’
- blood sports like dog fighting and bear baiting remained popular
- torture and brutal execution were still used by the government
- a small minority lived in luxury while the rest lived in poverty
- life expectancy was low and medical treatment was ineffective
where did the term ‘golden age’ come from
- it was encouraged by Elizabeth and her government
- plays, festivals and pamphlets promoted the idea
- the term ‘Gloriana’ was used to describe the spreading of this term
- for Elizabeth this was a way to secure her popularity on the throne
what were paupers
people who relied on charity to survive, this meant begging or going to the local church for help
what were the 4 reasons for poverty in Elizabethan England
- actions of previous monarchs
- changes in agriculture
- population increase
- flu outbreak
describe why actions of previous monarchs was a reason for poverty in Elizabethan England
- Henry VIII limited the right of nobles to hold private armies, this left soldiers without work
- dissolution of monasteries meant that monks, nuns and other church employees were left with nowhere to work or live
- the closure of the monasteries also left the sick with no one to care for them
- economic problems under Henry VIII and Edward VI led to the collapse of the cloth trade and the loss of many jobs
describe why changes to agriculture was a reason for poverty in Elizabethan England
- bad harvest between 1594 and 1598 led to food shortages and starvation in parts of England
- the food shortage also increased prices which led to inflation
- increasing numbers of landlords began to keep sheep on their land rather than grow crops, this was known as enclosure and meant that fewer workers were needed
- many unemployed farm workers headed to towns and cities in search of employment but there weren’t enough jobs to go around
describe why population increase was a reason for poverty in Elizabethan England
- during Elizabeth’s rein, England’s population rose from 2.8 million to 4 million
- a shortage of places to live gave power to landlords who increased rents
describe why the flu outbreak was a reason for poverty in Elizabethan England
- a terrible outbreak of flu in 1556 killings 200,000 people, including many farm workers
what were the attitudes and responses to the deserving poor
- the great chain of being made it clear to many nobles that they were better than the poor
- many believed it was there duty to help those below them in society
- they recognised that many paupers could not help the situation they were in and were not to blame for their poverty
- charities for the poor grew and almshouses were established
what were the attitudes and responses to the underserving poor
- some paupers were seen as undeserving, untrustworthy beggars who had no interest in honest work
- they were called vagabonds
- some would bite soap that they would be frothing at the mouth to get money
what happened to the poor after 1531
- beggars were publicly whipped
- those caught a 2nd time would have a hole burned through their ear
- a 3rd offence would result in being hung
what happened in 1576
an act for setting the poor to work placed the responsibility on local authorities
how did different authorities deal with poverty
in different ways
what was the first poor law
- was in 1601
- the wealthy should be taxed to pay for the care of the sick and venerable
- fit and healthy paupers should be given work
- those who refused to work would be dealt with harshly
what 3 categories were the poor placed into after the introduction of the first poor law in 1601
- the helpless poor (sick and old)
- the able bodies poor
- the idle poor
