In the Elizabethan Era, the universe was thought to be composed of four elements These elements were fire, air, water, and earth Fire was considered most important Air, water, and earth followed, in order of importance

Closely correspond with elements that make up the universe Fire was associated with choler or bile Air was associated with blood Water was associated with phlegm Earth was associated with melancholy or black bile The balance of the four humours was closely related to a person's complexion, temperament, and overall health If the humours were thrown too far out of balance, disorder and disease emerged This was why a common practice for curing disease was bleeding a patient

Herbal medicine was used due to lack of modern technology. Medicines were administered by many different people. Physicians: only for wealthy due to costly services Surgeons: only allowed to pull teeth or bleed due to low social class, equivalent to a barber Wise women- used by the poor and familiar with the use of herbs Medicines were sold by the local apothecary, similar to a modern day pharmacy. Housewives were first contacted when someone had a disease. They were able to make their own medicines and potions.

The two major religious groups were Catholic and Protestant. The official religion was often whatever the current monarch believed. Queen Mary I was a passionate Catholic and frequently persecuted Protestants by burning them alive, hence her nickname Bloody Mary. After Queen Mary died, Queen Elizabeth came to the throne and changed the official religion to Protestantism. She did feel that practicing Catholicism was acceptable as long as it presented no threat to her rule or peace in England.

Before the Elizabethan Era, the common belief was that Earth was the center of the universe, and man controlled it. A scientist named Copernicus challenged this claim by saying that the Earth and other planets rotated around a central sun. There was a belief of a "Great Chain of Being" in which everything was on a certain level. An object's place on the chain depended on the proportion of "spirit" and "matter" in it. The more "spirit" an object had, the higher up on the chain. Inanimate objects were lowest on the chain, and God was highest.