E LIZABETHAN E RA

E LIZABETHAN R ELIGION AND B ELIEFS Elizabeth was different: as a Protestant, she was determined to protect her power as Queen Many of Elizabeth’s subjects were confused by religious changes in England In doing this in 1559, soon after her accession, she was helped by many who had opposed Mary and who had spend the previous years abroad to escape the Catholic government Confirmed Protestants (influenced by the Reformation in Europe), believed in preaching, reading the Bible in English, and worship in unadorned churches

E DUCATION Girls did not attend schools All grammar schools taught in Latin and sometimes Greek Shakespeare attended a grammar school Only two out of every ten men were able to sign their names in the 1550’s Out of the whole of England’s population, only 4,000 men were studying at Oxford or Cambridge Universities Elizabethan England did not have many printing presses Gentlemen could afford more expensive books Giving schools money was considered a moral duty In the 16 th century, individuals made a mark or symbol instead of a signature Sons of gentlemen could study law at one of the Inns of Court in London The training could prepare them to be lawyers Religious books were popular

E LIZABETHAN D AILY L IFE They believed that the Queen was God’s representative Elizabeth thought her family was above other people Children’s behavior was based on passages in the Bible John Lyster wrote A Rule on How to Bring Up Children in 1529, a law started that when a person died, all of their possessions had to be listed in an inventory If you weren’t rich enough, you would only live until the age of 42, but wealthy people lived longer The royal court had to be moved to Window and visitors from the capitol were not allowed to hear The people that could afford a doctor had to tolerate painful treatments and ineffective or harmful People who couldn’t afford a doctor relied more on traditional / remedies and methods of healing based on superstition

W ORK, A GRICULTURE, AND I NDUSTRY In England, farming was separated In the south and east, they farmed grain and live stock. In the west and north, they farmed sheep, cattle, and horses There were also weavers Many tools came in handy for building, farming, and domestic use Leather goods were very common, and they also had metal and coal mines After a war between France and England, times got more difficult Illness and bad weather They couldn’t trade with Roman Catholic countries England traded goods with Russia, America, Morocco, and Persia Lots of men combined their hunting

C RIME AND P UNISHMENT Elizabethans had a strong fear of crime Those who could read were branded with hot irons Those who were given a second chance by the court were branded with hot irons to make sure that they didn’t use that excuse again Serious crimes usually meant that the accused would be hanged There were other punishments: put in the stocks (which held feet) or the pillory (held the arms) Public display was important to punishment to shame the criminal and warn others Offenders whipped Pilloried Hanged Criminals and homeless were treated severely by the harsh laws of the period Vagrants were generally whipped

C ULTURE AND E NTERTAINMENT William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlow, and Ben Jonson wrote and acted histories, tragedies, and comedies in the Globe Theater The entertainments enjoyed by groups in Elizabethan society depended on wealth and literacy The Globe Theater is located in London In every town and city, they started entertainment on the streets, in allies, and playhouses to entertain themselves and others Shakespeare’s poetry was popular with nobility and gentry Gambling with cards and dice, tennis, and bowling were entertaining