The Elizabethan Age

Economy, politics and religion

 The War of Roses
: The end of a civil war for the throne between the House of
Lancester and the House of York

All economic, political and social reform was put on hold

The monarch grew in power while helped

The House of Tudor brought reform belatedly

1
4
8
5
The Monarchy
considerable power

Queen + monarch: made all ultimate decisions

government operated on three levels:

National levels:

Regional levels:

Local levels:

Queen's advisors + councillors: crucial role in shaping

political decisions and policies
ex.: -> Privy council: advisors of

Queen Elizabeth (ex.: foreign affairs, defense,

administration)

disobeying the Queen = death penalty

1
The Monarchy and Shakespeare
- England was under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I and later King James I.

- Shakespeare's works often re ected the political and cultural dynamics of the time

- his early plays, depicted the complex struggles for power within the royal court

- his acting company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later the King's Men), received royal
support and performed regularly at the royal court-> nancial stability

- Shakespeare's later works, including "Macbeth," "Hamlet," and "King Lear," delve into
themes of monarchy, power, and the consequences of unchecked rule

- Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" was written with the Stuart dynasty in mind, possibly to
appeal to the new king's Scottish heritage
fl
fi
The Church
And its decline in power
The church's power decreased as the educated pool of people grew

The Roman Empire sent the Spanish Armada due to religious and
trade rivalries

Queen Elizabeth established the Church of England to separate it

from the Pope's authority

Tension between Catholics and Protestants

The Act of Uniformity enforced the use of the Book of Common

Prayer
Catholic practice was restricted

The Puritan movement gained

momentum and advocated for
further reforms within the Church
of England

The ERS aimed to strike a balance

between Catholics and Protestants

The church played a major role in

exerting in uence over the
population to maintain social
order
fl
 Social order
The Golden Ages
Classism: nobility, gentry, yeomanry and peasants

Nobility is dynastic, gentry are closest to nobility, yeomanry are middle-class

labourers and the peasants

Highly structured and supposedly ordered by God

 Women Men

Gender Roles belonged to their supporting a

father or husband household
Patriarchal

Traditional gender roles were marriage was

professional jobs
permitted at
enforced, limited rights for
women
not allowed on performed all roles
Queen Elizabeth or Mary stage till in plays
Sidney made signi cant
unable to own
contributions inheritance from
property unless
father
they were widows
1
6
6
0
1
2
fi
Sources

www.britannica.com

www.wikipedia.com

www.elizabeth les.com

Materials given
fi