what was it like during the reign of elizabeth I?
The Elizabethan era (said to be golden ages) is named after the Queen Elizabeth I, though this era is not only famous because of the Queen but also because of great explores such as Sir Franics Drake and Walter Raleigh the very first theatre in England, William Shakespeare the Globe Theatre and Christopher Marlowe the Elizabethan period was the age of the renaissance of the new ideas and a different way of thinking. Her reign was a time of extravagance and luxury in which a flourishing popular culture expressed in many peoples work also. This sense of wellbeing was embodied by Queen Elizabeth who liked to wear sumptuous costumes and jewellery, and be entertained in style at her court. But
life in Tudor England did not always reflect such splendour. The sixteenth
century was also a time when the poor became poorer, books and opinions were censored, and plots to overthrow the Queen were rife. Elizabeth's ministers had to employ spies and even use torture to gain information about threats to her
life.
How did they dress?
The Elizabethan period in England had a daily life based on social order: the
monarch as the highest, the nobility as second rank, the gentry as third,
merchants as fourth, yeomanry as fifth and laborers as sixth. It was also believed that God had formed these social ranks and showered blessings on each rank. The
Parliament regulated the clothes that can only be worn by each rank and it was
considered a defiance of the order if a laborer wore clothes of the rich. Sumptuary laws were imposed by rulers to curb the expenditure of the people. These laws applied to food, beverages, furniture, jewelry and clothing. They were used to control behavior and ensure that a specific class structure was maintained. Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws dictated what color and type of clothing individuals were allowed to own and wear. This allowed an easy and immediate way to identify rank and privilege. The clothes worn during this era were influenced by geometric shapes rather than the natural shape of the body.
Elizabethan Food-
Elizabethan Food and Drink varied according to status and wealth. In the early Medieval era meat was a sign of wealth. But as the population rose, this was supported by improving agricultural techniques and inventions. The Elizabethan era also saw the introductions of different food from the New World.
How did they stay entertained?-
During the Elizabethan era England expressed itself with music, literature, adventurous seafaring and architecture.Though at this point in time england was not that successful in forming a great miliary force they did avoid getitng defeated by building up a strong navy. In Elizabethan England, during the times when plays were not completly outlawed, going to the theatre was the favourite activity of the masses. When disease ravaged London, actors would travel across
the English countryside, entertaining farmers. There were also many days devoted to feasting, such as Mad Day, Midsummer Day, and Ascension Day (justa f ew named), when people would drink and make merry. Dances were popular,
whether you lived in London or in a small town, and so was getting together at the local pub for sing-alongs. Games like chess, checkers, and tennis were extremely popular; Miranda plays chess in The Tempest and Queen Elizabeth herself was known to love the game. Reading was also very popular, and most educated people could read their favourite books in more than one language.The upper classes engaged in tournaments of fencing and hunted for sport. All classes seemed to delight in the vicious form of entertainment known as bear-baiting, was a very known watched soucre of entertainment during this time.
The Elizabethan era (said to be golden ages) is named after the Queen Elizabeth I, though this era is not only famous because of the Queen but also because of great explores such as Sir Franics Drake and Walter Raleigh the very first theatre in England, William Shakespeare the Globe Theatre and Christopher Marlowe the Elizabethan period was the age of the renaissance of the new ideas and a different way of thinking. Her reign was a time of extravagance and luxury in which a flourishing popular culture expressed in many peoples work also. This sense of wellbeing was embodied by Queen Elizabeth who liked to wear sumptuous costumes and jewellery, and be entertained in style at her court. But
life in Tudor England did not always reflect such splendour. The sixteenth
century was also a time when the poor became poorer, books and opinions were censored, and plots to overthrow the Queen were rife. Elizabeth's ministers had to employ spies and even use torture to gain information about threats to her
life.
How did they dress?
The Elizabethan period in England had a daily life based on social order: the
monarch as the highest, the nobility as second rank, the gentry as third,
merchants as fourth, yeomanry as fifth and laborers as sixth. It was also believed that God had formed these social ranks and showered blessings on each rank. The
Parliament regulated the clothes that can only be worn by each rank and it was
considered a defiance of the order if a laborer wore clothes of the rich. Sumptuary laws were imposed by rulers to curb the expenditure of the people. These laws applied to food, beverages, furniture, jewelry and clothing. They were used to control behavior and ensure that a specific class structure was maintained. Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws dictated what color and type of clothing individuals were allowed to own and wear. This allowed an easy and immediate way to identify rank and privilege. The clothes worn during this era were influenced by geometric shapes rather than the natural shape of the body.
Elizabethan Food-
Elizabethan Food and Drink varied according to status and wealth. In the early Medieval era meat was a sign of wealth. But as the population rose, this was supported by improving agricultural techniques and inventions. The Elizabethan era also saw the introductions of different food from the New World.
How did they stay entertained?-
During the Elizabethan era England expressed itself with music, literature, adventurous seafaring and architecture.Though at this point in time england was not that successful in forming a great miliary force they did avoid getitng defeated by building up a strong navy. In Elizabethan England, during the times when plays were not completly outlawed, going to the theatre was the favourite activity of the masses. When disease ravaged London, actors would travel across
the English countryside, entertaining farmers. There were also many days devoted to feasting, such as Mad Day, Midsummer Day, and Ascension Day (justa f ew named), when people would drink and make merry. Dances were popular,
whether you lived in London or in a small town, and so was getting together at the local pub for sing-alongs. Games like chess, checkers, and tennis were extremely popular; Miranda plays chess in The Tempest and Queen Elizabeth herself was known to love the game. Reading was also very popular, and most educated people could read their favourite books in more than one language.The upper classes engaged in tournaments of fencing and hunted for sport. All classes seemed to delight in the vicious form of entertainment known as bear-baiting, was a very known watched soucre of entertainment during this time.