part two: life in elizabethan times Flashcards
what were the reasons for the rise of the gentry?
- tudor’s suspicion of ‘old’ nobility: they’d deliberately marginalised nobles, who they saw as threat, by granting very few new titles & excluding from gov. left vacuum which gentry filled & became v powerful politically. cecil, walsingham, hatton came from gentry class. gentry dominated HoC, gained power locally thru work as Justices of the Peace
- dissolution of monasteries by henry vii: monasteries had owned ab 1/4 of all land in england, dissolution made more land available 2 buy than ever before
- increasing wealth: growth in trade & exploration, 2gether w pop. growth, rising prices & enclosure, helped many gentry families 2 make their fortunes. therefore able 2 use money to establish estates, build grand houses, educate selves
what achievements of E’s reign did the gentry’s money help to fuel?
the cultural achievements - gentry keen 2 sponsor architectural, artistic, intellectual & literary endeavours; this helped 2 affirm their new status in society
what were the typical male fashion items?
- doublet
- woollen/silk stockings
- trunk-hose (padded out w horse hair 2 make bulges & cut in strips 2 give two-tone effect)
- jerkin
- ruff
- shoes (leather w cork soles)
- hat
- cloak
- sword
- beard
tf is a doublet
a long sleeved silk or satin shirt w ruffles at end
what is a jerkin
a colourful velvet jacket decorated w embroidery, fastened up the front w buttons
what were the female fashion items?
- farthingale
- ruff
- undergown
- gown
- over-gown
- dyed hair w false hair piled on top
- heavy white makeup
- blackened teeth
- shoes (embroidered silk or velvet or light spanish leather)
- small hat (designed 2 show off much hair as possible)
what did an undergown look like
made of silk or satin and heavily patterned and embroidered, w side sleeves w ruffles at end
what did a gown look like
satin or velvet, sleeveless, slashed to show the undergown through it
what did an overgown look like
a cape w armholes 4 cold weather or going outside
what was a farthingale
a petticoat w wooden hoops sewn into it
what did the sumptuary laws do, and when were they passed
- called the statutes of apparel
- strictly controlled clothes people allowed 2 wear depending on social rank
- 1574
what were some key architectural changes?
- houses now built to show off wealth, designed 2 amaze all who saw them in terms of scale and style
- intricate chimney stacks
- leaded glass in large mullioned windows
- decorative gardens
- shape was symmetrical
- long galleries
- intricate designs
- much bigger
- interior rooms now very light due to extensive use of glass
- bedrooms placed upstairs 4 1st time
- separate rooms
- houses far more comfortable than b4
what was elizabethan architecture influenced by?
italian renaissance architecture from places such as florence
what was the period of the building boom & development of new ideas in architecture called?
the Great Rebuilding
what did the changes in architecture show?
- wealth & stability of the era
- strong government - no longer had 2 include defensive features, e.g. moats & drawbridges
who was the leading architect, and which famous elizabethan houses did he design/build?
- Robert Smythson
- Longleat House (Wiltshire) & Hardwick Hall (Derbyshire)
what were the new houses often made of?
depends what was available locally, but often either stone or brick
elizabethan houses were very different from previous ______ styles
gothic
what was the long gallery on the upper floor used for?
entertainment & displaying art collections
true or false: the houses were far more comfortable than before
true
why were the houses more comfortable?
- decorative plasterwork ceilings
- oak panelled walls
- impressive fireplaces (also kept more than just ground floor warm due to chimneys)
- tapestries
- libraries
why was theatre popular?
- affordable
- not just about play: could also buy food/drink, socialise, network for business, & meet prospective husbands/wives
- fun
what were the changes in the attitudes towards theatre?
- when E became queen, no theatres in country
- just mystery and miracle plays, based on bible stories & lives of saints, but not performed in permanent theatres
- government didn’t like actors - thought to be threat 2 law & order, acting not respectable profession, no more than beggars
- 1572: parliament passed law, actors punished as vagabonds, but also in same year law requiring all bands of actors 2 be licensed
- 4 yrs later (1576) first purpose built London theatre opened
- many more theatres opened after this
- by end of E’s reign 7 major theatres in London, 40 companies of actors
what year did parliament pass a law saying actors were to be punished as vagabonds?
1572
what year did parliament pass a law requiring all bands of actors to be licensed, and what were the (unexpected) effects of this?
- 1572
- law brought in bc of gov. suspicion
- but encouraged actor companies 2 organise selves
- 4 yrs later 1st purpose built theatre in london opened (The Theatre)
what was the first purpose built theatre called and when did it open?
The Theatre, 1576
what other theatres opened after The Theatre, and when?
- 1577: The Curtain
- 1587: The Rose
- 1596: The Swan
- 1599: The Globe
by end of E’s reign, 7 major theatres in London
what were mystery and miracle plays?
- based on bible stories & lives of saints
- had been popular since middle ages
- performed on temporary platforms in open places such as market squares & inn yards, not in permanent theatres
- groups of actors would tour country 2 perform, but gov. didn’t like them
what religious group strongly disapproved of theatre, and why?
puritans, associated it w Ancient Romans & thought it was the work of the devil
when did the earthquake strike the south coast of england, and what did people consider it to be?
- 1580
- a sign of gods anger at the theatre
where were theatres located?
- outside city walls, due to authorities opposition to them
- most in Bankside district in Southwark, on South Bank of Thames
what was the reputation of the area where the theatres usually were?
- bad
- lots of taverns, bear-baiting rings, pickpockets, brothels
- crime common in area
what was the design of Elizabethan theatres influenced by?
- the earlier informal performance of plays in inn yard and marketplaces
- so made up of uncovered circular pit w surrounding covered galleries
- also similar in design 2 bear baiting pits, so unsuccessful theatres could be converted easily
what time were plays always staged?
afternoon (no artificial light)
what did the flag and trumpet in the theatre do?
flag signalled a performance that day, trumpet signalled start of play
what was the ‘tiring house’ (theatre)?
hectic area behind the stage, where actors would dress in costumes & collect props
how was the rigid social order upheld inside the theatre?
- cheapest tickets for ‘the pit’/‘yard’, audience (‘groundlings’) stood in noisy & smelly conditions, exposed 2 weather
- more expensive (2 or 3 pennies) 2 watch from 3-tiered galleries, which offered seating & thatched roof providing protection from weather
- for extra penny, cushion provided 2 sit on
- richest audience members watch from ‘Lord’s room’ above stage, or even sit on stage itself
what were some successful Elizabethan playwrights?
- Ben Jonson
- Thomas Kyd
- Thomas Dekker
- Christopher Marlowe
- William Shakespeare
what were ‘the heavens’ and ‘the hut’ in the theatre?
area of theatre above stage, directed special effects
hut provided storage space
how did the themes of the plays reflect the interests of Elizabethans?
because the themes were violence, romance, magic, the ancient world, exploration, patriotism
how were plays political?
- some contained subtle messages designed 2 flatter E & support her position
- carefully censored 2 not be too controversial or make obvious references 2 politicians of the time
- Shakespeare’s plays often emphasise heirachy & orderliness - GCoB
- and triumph of good over evil is common moral
- this all suited E & her gov. very well
what were paupers?
people who were unemployed and relied on charity to survive - this meant begging or going to the local church for help
how did the actions of previous monarchs contribute to the problem of poverty in elizabethan england?
- henry VII limited right of nobles to hold private armies, fearing they’d be threat to throne. this left many soldiers w/o work
- The Reformation under Henry VIII led to closure of monasteries. monks, nuns, other church employees left w nowhere to live or work
- closure of monasteries also left sick & poor w no one to care for them
- economic problems under henry VIII & edward VI led to collapse of cloth trade & loss of many jobs
how did changes in agriculture contribute to the problem of poverty in elizabethan england?
- bad harvests between 1594-1598 led 2 food shortages & starvation in parts of england, also increased prices of food - led to inflation
- increasing numbers of landlords began 2 keep sheep on land instead of growing crops - fewer workers needed
- also enclosure
- many unemployed farm workers headed 2 towns & cities in search of employment, not enough jobs to go around
how did the population increase contribute to the problem of poverty in elizabethan england?
- england pop. 2.8 million —> 4 million
- shortage of places to live gave power to landlords who increased rents (rack renting)
during elizabeth’s reign, england’s pop. went from ___ _______ to _ _______
2.8 million to 4 million
when was the flu outbreak and how many people did it kill?
- 1556
- 200,000, incl. many farm workers (contributed to poverty)
what were the attitudes and responses to the deserving poor?
- GCoB made clear 2 many nobles that they’re simply ‘better’ than poor
- many believed it’s their duty 2 help those below them in society
- they recognised that many paupers couldn’t help their situation & weren’t to blame for their poverty
- charities for the poor grew & almshouses established
what were the attitudes and responses to the undeserving poor?
- some paupers seen as undeserving, untrustworthy beggars who has no interest in honest work
- ‘Warning Against Vagabonds’ by thomas harman, published 1567, encouraged view that many poor people merely confidence tricksters or criminals. others seen as being idle/lazy
when was ‘warning against vagabonds’ published, and who wrote it?
1567, Thomas Harman
when were there bad harvests?
between 1594 and 1598
what did ‘The Counterfeit Crank’ do?
bit soap so that he frothed at the mouth, people would feel sympathy and give him money
what did the ‘Baretop Trickster’ do?
they were women who’d trick men into following them by removing clothing; the men would then be beaten & robbed by her accomplices
what would the ‘Clapper Dudgeon’ do?
cut himself & tie dirty bandages around the wounds to gain sympathy
what would ‘Tom O’Bedlam’ do?
a beggar who’d pretend to be mad, e.g. stick a chicken’s head in his ear or bark like a dog
how were beggars dealt with from 1495?
they were punished in the stocks or sent back to their home towns
how were beggars dealt with from 1531?
- publicly whipped
- those caught a 2nd time would have hole burned in their ear
- caught 3rd time would mean they’re hanged
true or false: the laws made in 1495 and 1531 which were passed to deal with poverty remained in place for most of E’s reign
true
when was the ‘Act for setting the poor on work’ passed, and what did it do?
1576, placed responsibility of poor people on local authorities
how did london deal with the poor?
- Bridewell Palace used as shelter for the homeless
- Bedlam hospital built to house the mentally ill
- other hospitals opened for the sick & for orphans
- conditions in all these institutions were poor & couldn’t cope with growing numbers coming to the city
how did york deal with poverty?
- 1515: city authority issued beggar licenses, with a badge to identify holders
- from 1528: Master Beggar appointed to keep others in order
- if beggars refused to work they’d be sent to House of Correction
how did ipswich deal with poverty?
- introduced licensing system for beggars from 1569
- opened hospital specifically to help the old and sick
- a youth training scheme was introduced to help children learn a trade & escape poverty
how did norwich deal with poverty?
- after survey showed that 80% of pop. lived in poverty in 1570, city authorities separated poor into ‘idle poor’ and ‘unfortunate poor’
- ‘idle poor’ given work such as knitting or sewing
- ‘unfortunate poor’ given food or other forms of care
- rich citizens taxed to pay for care of the vulnerable
when was the first ever Poor Law introduced?
1601
what did the 1601 poor law do?
stated that:
- the wealthy should be taxed to pay for care of sick & vulnerable
- fit & healthy paupers should be given work
- those who refused to work were still dealt w harshly: they could be whipped or placed in a House of Correction
what were the three groups that the poor were categorised into in the 1601 poor law?
- the helpless poor (sick and old): given food & accommodation
- the able bodied poor (those considered fit): had to work in exchange for food
- the idle poor: punished & sent to a House of Correction
how effective was the Poor Law?
- did make difference to some
- not properly enforced in many areas
- begging seemed 2 decrease
—> may have been due 2 threat of House of Correction rather than extra help available
why do some historians argue that the Poor Law was unsuccessful?
it made each area responsible for its own paupers; some simply sent from 1 places to another w/o receiving any help
what other countries played a major role in exploring the world?
spain and portugal
which sailors helped increase englands wealth & power w their voyages? (also why they were important)
- Sir Francis Drake
- Sir Walter Raleigh
- John Hawkins
what year did Drake complete the first circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition?
between 1577-1580
what were the stages of Drake’s circumnavigation of the world?
- dec 1577: he takes 5 ships 2 raid spanish ports in the americas
- june-july 1578: responds 2 rumour of mutiny by executing Thomas Doughty, his former friend
- sept 1578: sails through Straits of Magellan, first englishman 2 do so, storm destroys 1 ship & blows others off course
- remaining ships sail up coast & raid number of spanish ports
- june 1579: with just own ship remaining, lands in North America & claims it for E
- march-june 1580: navigates dangerous Cape of Good Hope
- 26 sept: returns to Plymouth, knighted on board ship the ‘golden hind’ by E
when was Sir Walter Raleigh given royal permission to explore the americas (the new world), and what would he be allowed to do?
- 1584
- allowed to colonise any land not ruled by a Christian
- in return, had to give E 1/5 of all gold & silver he found there
did sir walter raleigh sail himself (new world)?
no, sent others to explore & establish colonies in New World
where was a colony established on the east coast of america, and did it last?
Roanoke, no
did the second colony created in 1587 succeed?
- seemed like it was going to
- when colony’s leader returned from trip 2 england, found all colonists gone & word ‘CROATOAN’ (name of local tribe) carved into a tree
what advancements made exploration possible?
technology: better designed ships much faster due to triangular lateen sail
defences: better weapons such as cannons made easier 2 explore hostile territory
navigation: astrolabe allowed sailors to judge their position, & more accurate compasses made navigation easier
john hawkins was a _________ ______ and ________
john hawkins was a respected sailor and courtier
what was john hawkins responsible for?
building up navy & commanding it against the spanish armada
what did john hawkins do in 1564?
- kidnapped several hundred west africans, sold them in south america
- not first example of European slave trade, but was first time whole process had been carried out by Englishman
john hawkins was also a __________ _________ and is thought to have brought _______ to england
john hawkins was also a successful privateer and is thought to have brought tobacco to england
how did raiding spanish ships & ports allow england to gain wealth?
allowed riches to be stolen and brought back to england
how did trading systems allow england to gain wealth?
- trading systems established from which englands wealth grew over following centuries; new products like spices, silks, porcelain brought to england for 1st time
- trade w the East in spices & other goods grew as middlemen could now be cut out - english sailors could deal directly w merchants in asia
- new companies created 2 deal w trade in particular area, e.g. Levant Company dealt exclusively w trade in Turkey & middle east
- East India Company established in 1600 to oversee trade in india & the far east
how did the trade in african slaves bring significant wealth to individuals & england as a whole?
- other englishmen saw how hawkins profited & so became involved in slave trade over following years
- slave labour enabled raw materials to be produced cheaply in the americas
how was england growing in naval power?
- naval power’d been growing under E & was able 2 hold its own in any sea battle
- improved weapons & tactics, and skilled command of men like Francis Drake, played key role in this
- english victory over spanish armada showed dominant position that england held
was england the first country to build colonies in newly discovered lands?
no, and there were several failed attempts
—> but perseverance led 2 inc. numbers of colonies, particularly in north america, being established in name of E and her successors
