historical background
Religion
Economny
Politics
Society
Life in London
The Elizabethan Classes
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The Nobility
The Gentry
Peculiar feature of English society
5% of the population (knights, squires and gentlemen)
The most important class of the Elizabethan Era
The key to it was wealth
Knights
Squires
Gentlemen
Lords and ladies
Rich and powerful
Large households
The smallest class
Only about 50 noble families during the reign of Elizabeth 1
Each family was headed by a Duke, a Baron or an Earl
Any person could become a member of the nobility by getting a grant from the queen or the king
Nobility titles were hereditary
To loose his title it took a high crime, such as treason
They lived luxuriously because it was expected from them and to entertain nobility guests on their own expense
It was also expected to serve high offices which bought more debt rather than profit
• divided into four categories, The Nobility, and The Gentry (upper class) and The Yeomen and The Poor (lower class)
• social classes were flexible
• most people were born into one and stayed there
• the social class determined what they wear, where they could live or even the jobs for the children
Originally a military rank, in Elizabethan times ut became a mark of honor
The title could be received from a monarch or a military leader
had knights in their ancestry
people who had become wealthy landowners
economy got more european
lack of jobs
Christianity
Divided into Catholics and Protestants
Diametrically opposing beliefs
In the early 16th century religion was an important factor which held the society together
Later it became a vehicle for extending and consolidating political power
Differences in religion were likely to cause to civil unrest
When Elizabeth 1 ascended to the throne 1558 Catholics and Protestants wrangled for political power
Elizabeth 1 restored Protestantism as official religion
Catholics worshipped with Protestants until it was forbidden by Pope Pius V in 1570
Elizabeth 1 was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife
The Pope declared that her parents marriage was not legal
1599 the Parliament considered a Reformation Bill and recreated an independent church of England
she got formally excommunicated
Elizabeth was not the rightful queen
Buildings
Activities
Thames
Thames was crowned with rowing boats, barges and commercial sailing ships
Chamber pots of the inhabitants got refused into the river
During spring the Thames would overflow its banks
In winter the water got froze
Flood much of London
People could skate on it
The Tower Bridge was only bridge, which connected the northern and the southern sides of London
Southwark was London`s entertainment zone
The Royal Exchange on Threadneedle street was world`s first shopping mall
The Queen lived in the White Hall Palace
With a lot of taverns, brothels or theatres, like the Globe-Theatre
In this area it was very dangerous at night
The White Hall Palace was the largest palace in Europe
Bearbaiting was a loved sport in London
In winters, when the Thames was froze, you could skate on it
Commerce was controlled by powerful men from guilts
The Lord Major of London got elected every year on Michaelmas Day (29.9.)
The Queen, Elizabeth I., lived in the White Hall Palace
The chief spokesmen for the guilts were involved in post of Lord Major and Aldermen of London
Public executions were most popular activity for spectators
London as commercial centre of England
Trade industry was blooming
economy was focused primarily on agriculture
inflation
in the small townes the most work was handmade
rise of population
most people lived in poverty