Society in the Age of Exploration 1558-1588 Flashcards
What did Humanists argue about education?
That it was valuable in itself and was not merely a way of preparing people for their role in adult life.
What was the impact of Protestantism on education?
They wanted people to be able to read the Bible, so they needed people to be literate
What impact did trade have on literacy?
Increased trade meant more people needed to be able to read, write and understand mathematics in order to keep records of trades effectively.
What sorts of leisure activities might the wealthy take part in?
Hunting, fishing, real tennis, bowls, fencing
What sorts of leisure activities might the working classes take part in?
Football, wrestling
What types of spectator sport were popular in Elizabethan England?
Bear baiting, cock-fighting
When was the Red Lion theatre built?
1567
When were the Queen’s Men (Elizabeth’s theatre company) established?
1583
Why did poverty increase in Elizabethan England? (7 reasons)
1) Population growth
2) Increasing demand for land
3) Sheep farming
4) Enclosure
5) Economic recession
6) Bad harvests
7) Growth of towns
How much did population grow in Elizabeth’s reign, and how did it lead to poverty?
From 3 million in 1551 to 4.2 million by 1601. Increased demand for food, while also increasing competition for jobs & land.
How did sheep farming lead to poverty?
Increase in wool trade led to more farmers rearing sheep, rather than growing food. This led to food shortages and also led to enclosure.
How did enclosure lead to poverty?
Common land was divided up so farmers could rear sheep. This led to a lack of common land being available for people to grow their own food on.
When were harvests particularly bad in Elizabethan England?
1562, 1565, 1573 and 1586
What were the two types of poor in Elizabethan England?
Able bodied poor and impotent poor.
How did attitudes towards the poor change over the course of Elizabeth’s reign?
- People feared that poverty would lead to rebellion
- Increased poverty made it a more visible issue
- Changing circumstances forced the authorities to develop a more constructive attitude to poverty
What were the policies toward the poor in Elizabethan England?
The poor rate, charity, the Statute of Artificers, the Poor Relief Act, the Vagabonds Act
When was the Statute of Artificers passed?
1563
When was the Poor Relief Act passed?
1576
When was the Vagabonds Act passed?
1572
What was the Poor Rate?
A local tax organised by Justices of the Peace, with proceeds spent on improving the lives of the poor.
What was the Statute of Artificers?
Those refusing to pay the poor rate could be put in prison. Officials who did not organise poor relief were fined.
What was the Poor Relief Act?
JPs required to provide the poor with wool and raw materials, to enable them to sell things. Poor who refused to do so sent to house of correction.
What was the Vagabonds Act?
Vagrants would be whipped and have a hole drilled through their ear to warn others of their vagrancy. If they were arrested again for vagrancy they were sent to prison. They would receive the death penalty for the third offence. Also introduced a national poor rate to provide support for the impotent poor.
Why did exploration increase in Elizabeth’s reign?
Development of better maps, improvements in ship design, private investment, increasing trade, thirst for adventure, development of the triangular trade
When did Mercator produce his map of the world?
1569
When did Drake circumnavigate the globe?
1577-1580
What was the significance of Drake’s circumnavigation?
1) England’s reputation as a seafaring power increased,
2) England increasingly saw the navy as the best means of defence
3) Declining relations with Spain
4) English ships began to trade elsewhere
5) Encouraged further trade and exploration
6) Established colonies in New England
When was Drake knighted?
1580
When did Thomas Harriott develop a simple way of calculating the direction of a ship?
1584
When was the first colony established in Virginia?
1585
When did the surviving colonists from the first Virginia mission return home?
1586
When was the colony established at Roanoke?
1587
Who organised the Virginia mission?
Walter Raleigh
Why did Raleigh attempt to colonise Virginia?
1) Trade opportunities
2) Less dependent on European powers (eg Spain) for imports
3) It was believed that the natives would be welcoming and friendly
4) Provide a base to attack Spanish settlements
5) Investors believed the trip would be profitable
6) A successful colony would make it easier to fund other ventures
Why did the first colonisation of Virginia fail?
1) Lack of food: the colonists left too late to plant crops & The Tiger was damaged
2) Poor leadership
3) Lack of skills and experience
4) Native American attack
5) The war with Spain: meant there were few resources and ships available to support the colonists.
