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LIFE IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND - Coggle Diagram
LIFE IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND
POVERTY
Causes for Poverty
Population rose by 1.4 million in Elizabeth's reign that resulted in increasing food price.
WAGES = CONSTANT
Harvests were particularly bad in the 1590s and this led to more food shortages and higher prices
Standards of living fell and poverty increased.
Farmers who rented land evicted and fewer labourers needed for bigger areas ( less subsitence farming ).
More sheep being grown, fewer farmers needed ( exporting wool was more profitable )
Taxes increased to fund the war
Threat of famine as plagues also spread
New World silver found affected inflation
POVERTY PERCEPTION
Fear that social order might be threatened due to growing number of poor people ganging together and starting a rebellion.
Vagabonds and beggars would becom criminals
Fear the poor may spread the disease
Impotent Poor:
Could not provide food for themselves as they were too young, old or ill. Government = sympathetic
Idle Poor:
They were dishonest and considered immoral and criminal class, fit to work but lazy so they resorted to begging.
POOR LAWS:
1563:
Justices of Peace authourised and enpowered to raise funds for the poor and put poor into categories
Deserving poor :
Given help through outdoor relief in return for a wage
Idle Poor:
were wipped in the streets publicly until they learnt their errors
Impotent/ deserving poor :
Looked after in hospitals, orphonages or almhouses.
1601 poor law:
A compulsory nationwide poor rate system put in place
Everyone has to contribute, they would otherwise go to jail
Almshouses established for the impotent poor
Work or apprenticeships for children who were orphaned
ELIZABETHAN THEATRES
How were they funded
Nobles helped to fund theatres
Actors were invited to perform in Country Houses
DUDLEY
patronised Leicester company
By the end of Elizabeth's reign were 7 major theatres and 40 company of actors. Actors were licenses
Who would be found in them
Pit and Yard held the cheapest tickets where people could stand
Rich would sit in 3 tier balcony
2,000 spectators in total
Cheap entracnce fees affordable for everyone
How did they affect culture
William Shakespeare had successful tragedies and comedies
Successful playrights include Christopher Harlowe and Ben johnson
Themes highlighted Elizabethan interest of romance and love.
Policied such that play would be in favour of the Queen
Theatre was a distraction to the poor. People went to taverns, inns and spent into the economy
Richard III endorsed by nobles so Elizabeth's family could look good.
OPPOSITION THEATRE
Puritans
Believed that theatre were the work of the devil
The spread poor and lewd messages about actors
Deemed as vagabonds
GOLDEN AGE
The rich land owning gentry just became richer as land was used more effectively for agriculture
The growth of towns and natin/international trade made some some merchants rich
Gentry improved and built new homes They had large windows and buildings that boosted about prosperity.
Art and literature became fashionable as a contribution to Theatre