life in elizabethan england

• How did Elizabeth's reign contrast those before?

  It was a time of peace and stability vomowred to when her grandfather henry vii came to thrown after the war of roses
• What did Elizabeth set out to do?

  Settle the nation and ensure Englands national security
• Who were the gentry?

  - A new class based on wealth built

  - gained land after the dissolution of the monasteries

  - wealth grew through trade and exploitation
• Why did Elizabeth favour the gentry?

  - Tudors had suspicions in nobility and saw them as a threat

  - they made up a majority of parliament/ justices of peace
• What is a revival/rebirth?

  Transition from Middle Ages to early modern eras
• How did Elizabethan England experience an English renaissance?

  - a cultural revival where the queen and her court set fashions

  - London population exploded

  - the printing press invention in the 15th century meant new ideas spread

  - science boomed with interest in planets and the human body
• How did the gentry influence the renaissance?

  - spent money in London to impress others

  - developed grammar schools and unis
• What were some features of Elizabethan fashion?

  - white makeup

  - petticoats and overgowns

  - trunk hoses

  - jerkins

  - ruffs
• How did fashion change?

  - gentry inspired a drive of new clothing

  - they used money to buy expensive and stylish fashion

  - fashion was a status symbol

  - size=wealth
• What were features of architecture?

  - decorative gardens

  - less defence

  - built of stone

  - Italian renaissance influence

  - symmetrical

  - chimney stacks and abundance of glass

  - e shaped floorplan
• Why were changes in architecture and fashion important?

  - showed the influence of the gentry over nobility

  - how wealth = status rather than family
• Cult of Elizabeth


  Strategy of representation developed to centralize Elizabeth's power and image, usually by glorifying Elizabeth in portraiture, literature, or other forms of artistic and political representation
• What is a cult of personality?

  The adoration of an individual through the use of art and popular culture.
• What was Elizabeth's cult of personality referred to as and why?

  'Gloriana' - to make her an object of worship for her people
• How did regulations in publishing help Elizabeth promote the myth of a golden age

  >printing presses were controlled

  > The most widely read book in Elizabeth's reign was Book of Martyrs (1563) which supported supported her and presented her to have rescued England from the 'horrors' of Catholic rule.

  > this book demonised Mary and made her reputation Bloody Mary
• How did Elizabeth use portraits to show her cult of personality?

  > She was short of money, so her courtiers ordered pictures of her to be painted to flatter her and boost their patronage

  > The portraits made clever use of symbols to create mystical image of the Queen

  > She wore expensive clothing and jewels

  > her ministers destroyed any portraits she disliked
• How did art develop?

  -Portraits developed and often included symbolism

  -miniature portraits were popular for personal possession

  -decorative silver wear and textile patterns show wealth and power
• What symbolism did Elizabeth use in her portraits?

  Hand on globe = global power
• How do some people argue the golden age was a myth to strengthen a weak regime?

  - blood sports such as dog fighting remained popular

  - torture and executions were still used

  - poverty crisis

  - life expectancy was low and medical treatment was ineffective

  - questionable science was practices (alchemy and astrology)
• What were morality plays?

  These were plays which portrayed virtues and vices as characters which encouraged to choose good over evil
• What were miracle plays?

  plays that depicted bible scenes
• What were popular theatres built in Elizabethan era?

  Rose, swan and globe theatre between 1587 and 1598
• How was theatre a form of propaganda?

  - all plays were controlled and approved by Elizabeth's government

  - portrayed political messages that supported the cult of personality

  - theatre companies were bribed with noble stability
• How did theatre reinforce hierarchy?

  - We're heavily religious and taught a message about the great chain of being

  - wealth = greater comfort/position

  - lords room made sure the wealthy were seen
• How was theatre evidence of a golden age?

  were preformed in theatres rather than medieval inns/courtyard
• Who were popular playwrights?

  Jonson, Thomas kyd and Shakespeare
• What features did playwrights use to keep attention?

  - dialogue

  - music

  - subplots
• What special features/effects were used?

  - heavens = controlled special effects

  - the hut= storage

  - cannonballs = thunder

  - filled pigs bladder = stabbing
• How many plays did Shakespeare write?

  37
• Who was Chris Marlowe?

  - poet and playwright

  - rumoured spy who was attested by privy in 1593
• What themes were used in plays?

  - violence

  - romance

  - love

  - ancient world

  - exploration

  - patriotism
• What were the different seat prices

  1 penny = pit/ yard

  2/3 pence = galleries

  6 pence = lords room
• What are groundlings?


  those who stood on the ground of the theater in noise, dirt and bad weather
• What are the galleries?

  -seats that formed the walls of the theater

  -seated up to 2000

  -provided comfort and a roof
• What is the "Lord's room"?


  Room above/on stage to highlight wealth and power
• What was the governments view on actors in the 1550s/60s


  Treated with suspicion as they lived immoral lives and plays encouraged disorder
• What was the governments attitude to theatre from the 1570s onwards?


  - advisors saw a propaganda potential

  - distracted the poor = no rebellions

  - influenced audience in favour of Elizabeth
• How were theatre companies awarded patronage?

  Won funding and noble protection for boosting Elizabeth's popularity
• What was the design of theatre like?

  - influenced by informal medieval plays in yards/markets

  - circular pits surrounded by galleries

  - pits were like bear baiting pits so they could be used if theatre was unsuccessful

  - always held in daylight

  - tiring houses = where actors changed and props were stored
• Reasons the theatres was supported;

  - way for all classes to be entertained

  - showed cultural understanding of nobility/gentry

  - political messages passed

  - prevented rebellion

  - reinforced great chain of being

  - actors/owners/writers achieved wealth