The Elizabethan Era

1. The Elizabethan Era By: John Pease Ms. Martin, Period 4

2. Queen Elizabeth • Queen Elizabeth I was daughter of King Henry VIII. • She reigned for 45 years, from 1558-1603. • She was very bright and spoke several different languages. • During her rein there were many achievements and this is why it is called the Golden Period. Click on Queen Elizabeth To learn more about her Life.

3. Elizabethan Government • The Elizabethan government was a monarchy, with one person making the decisions. • Social order listed in order of importance and rank: the monarch, nobility, the gentry, merchants, yeomanry and laborers. • The monarch was completely in charge. They determined issues regarding religion, war, education, issues to be discussed by Parliament, and welfare of her citizens.

4. Elizabethan Government • The queen had the power to send someone to prison and order execution. • All laws required the queens consent. • The queen could not write and pass laws but she could draw up a Bill and forward it to Parliament for consideration. • The queen could make Royal proclamations without Parliament’s consent.

5. Government • Parliament was similar to our Congress. It was divided into two sections. The House of Lords or the Upper House which consisted of bishops and aristocrats and the The House of Commons, which consisted of common people of lower status. • Parliament was responsible for taxes, passing laws and ensuring security of the realm. • Parliament could act as a court and impeach subjects, usually government servants

6. Education • Education during the Elizabethan period was for only certain individuals. • Boys not girls - Girls only needed to learn how to run a household and know the roles of their social class into which they marry. Those from affluent families, who were educated were taught at home by private tutors. • Those with money and those in higher social classes were educated. • Every child under the age of 20 years old also had to study catechism every Sunday.

7. Education was very different. • The school day ran from 6:00am to 5:00pm. • The teachers were very strict and beatings were acceptable. • Education wasn’t focused on learning basic mathematics or biology. Instead, it was to teach appropriate behavior for a specific social class. • Those who were from higher social classes with more money learned the basics plus studied poetry and prose of famous writers of the day. • They also learned grammar and Latin.

8. Education Continued… • After grammar school, the majority of boys became apprentices. • After a 7 years as an apprentice, the boy would become a journeyman and he could make money.

9. Elizabethan Women • Marriages were arranged. • Women were supposed to bring a dowry to the new husband. • A woman’s role was to run the household and create babies. • Women were raised to feel inferior to men. In fact, they were their husband’s property.

10. Fun Facts • Women who didn’t marry were considered witches. • The age of consent was 12 years old for girls to marry and 14 years old for boys. • It was a great risk to marry without the approval of your parents. You risked losing all of your status and money.

11. Sports , Games, & Entertainment • Blood sports involved bear baiting or bull baiting. After tying a bear or bull to a stake, four or five large, fierce dogs or lions were let in to attack the confined bear. • Cockfighting was another popular blood sport.

12. Sports & Games • Team sports were rough and violent. Some included: football, hurling (a type of polo/rugby), and soccer. Government frowned upon soccer because it caused many riots and bloodshed. • Other sports included: archery, jousting, hammer throw, wrestling and a game called bowls, where you knock down cones with balls. • Fencing was one of the most popular sports and betting was widespread.

13. Entertainment • Music and theatre were another big part of entertainment in the Elizabethan era • During this era the first theatre was built which eventually led to the amphitheater. • Theatres were as popular as the movie theatres we visit today.

14. Pure Entertainment • Shakespeare had a huge impact on the theatre in the Elizabethan era. • He wrote many plays, produced many plays and even had his own theatre, The Globe. • Some of his most famous plays include Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, A Mid Summer Night’s Dream and Henry V.

15. Elizabethan Food • Social class affected your food selection. • Meat was considered a wealthy food and only the higher class citizens could acquire this food. The lower class citizens typically ate cheese, fish, bread, and ale. • The wealthy also had a variety of fruits and vegetables to choose from. • People in the middle and lower classes ate lots of potages (thick soup) and stews.  • The wealthy also had access to tasty spices.

16. Celebrations, Festivals, Customs, and Holidays • Celebrations were greatly loved and appreciated in this era. • Everyone was expected to go to church and most festivals, fairs, customs, and holidays were related to the church and part of the church calendar.

17. Festivals, Fairs, Customs, and Holidays Learn more facts about celebrated holidays by clicking on the picture.

18. Works Cited "The Elizabethan Age." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2014. "Elizabethan Customs & Festivals." Elizabethan Customs & Festivals. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2014. "Elizabethan Era." The Lost Colony. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2014. "Elizabethan Life." Elizabethan Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2014. "Elizabethan Theatre." ELIZABETHAN THEATRE. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2014. "Internet Shakespeare Editions." The Education of Boys. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2014. "Queen Elizabeth I of England." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 19 May 2014. "Queen Elizabeth I." Queen Elizabeth I. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2014. "Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers." TeachersFirst's \ Shakespearean Feast. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2014. "William Shakespear - Biography." William Shakespear - Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2014.

19. The End