(also known as The Renaissance) 1558-1603 The Elizabethan Era (also known as The Renaissance) 1558-1603

The Elizabethan Era (1558-1603) Named after Queen Elizabeth Also known as The Renaissance Time of new ideas and the arts (science, technology, astrology, the supernatural) The Printing Press > New invention allowed texts/information to be more easily dispersed

Queen Elizabeth Her Father - Her Mother - King Henry VIII Married 6 times Famous King of England who Shakespeare wrote plays about Her Mother - Ann Boleyn 2nd of King Henry's six wives Beheaded due to charges of adultery & conspiracy

Queen Elizabeth Never married – known as The Virgin Queen Reigned 1558 – 1603 (45 years) One of the few women to rule England "...I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England, too; and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realms: to which, rather than any dishonour should grow by me, I myself will take up arms...”

Religion

Elizabethan Life - Religion Elizabeth's father, King Henry VIII, broke ties with the Catholic Church because the Pope would not grant him a divorce He created the Church of England, which adhered to many Protestant faith, which caused many Catholic monks and nuns to become poor and homeless Queen Elizabeth adhered to the Protestant faith, but was tolerant of the Catholics

Education / Career

Elizabethan Life - Education Grammar school became available to the growing middle class Many schools and colleges founded Development of the printing press increased availability of books and pamphlets

Medicine and Illness

Elizabethan Life – Medicine and Illness Medicine was very basic Common medical treatments: “Blood Letting” - used leeches to suck out “bad/evil” blood Herbs - used to heal minor ailments Diseases were misunderstood and thought to be caused by demonic/evil spirits

Elizabethan Life – Medicine and Illness Types of medical help: Surgeons: Inferior to physicians Could only pull teeth and perform “blood letting” Physicians: Served only the wealthy for a fee of a gold coin Educated at one of the universities

Elizabethan Life – Medicine and Illness Physicians' clothing completely covered their bodies and faces. Amulets of dried blood and ground-up toads were worn at the waist. They also doused themselves in vinegar (***This actually protected them. It worked as a sanitizer for their hands***) Would you want this man operating on you?

Another type of medical help... Apothecary: This is where most people went first Used herbs and chemicals to create and sell medical drugs Also sold sweets, cosmetics, and perfumes Compared to a modern day pharmacy

People with little money or support had to rely on the following for medical care: “Wise Woman” A local woman who used herbs to heal people in the community Homemade Remedies Housewives used a variety of herbs to produce home made medicines and potions Churches Would take people in and provide some aide/shelter

Elizabethan Life – Medicine and Illness Many people began to move from the countryside to larger towns seeking jobs or shelter. This caused severe overcrowding and other major problems. Massive outbreak of the Bubonic Plague – bacterial infection; if untreated can kill a person in 4 days or less

Factors that led to the Bubonic Plague: Overcrowded towns Lack of sanitation Fleas Lice Rats Garbage & Waste thrown into the river/streets “Take the wall” - referenced the side of the street next to the walls of buildings, farthest away from the open sewers. Inferiors were supposed to yield the wall to superiors and step into the dirty street. Therefore to "take the wall" of a superior was a way to show disrespect because you were forcing the superior to walk into the dirty street.

Bubonic Plague Known as “The Black Death” Bubonic Plague killed one third of the population in Europe Hit the city dwellers the hardest due to severe overcrowding and lack of sanitation

Bubonic Plague 1563 in London: 1,000 people died weekly in mid-August 1,600 died weekly in September 1,800 died weekly in October

Elizabethan Life – Bubonic Plague “When plague broke out in London in 1563, Elizabeth moved her court to Windsor Castle. She erected gallows and ordered anyone coming from London to be hanged. She also prohibited the import of foreign goods to as a measure to prevent the spread of the disease.”

Clothing

Elizabethan Life – Clothing “Regardless of their wealth, Elizabethans were not allowed to wear what clothes they liked. Their clothing and items of apparel were dictated by the Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws which governed the style and materials worn.” Men & women wore many layers of clothing to fight the cold and diseases. Clothing could also display wealth and style.

Men's Clothing Under garments: Shirt stockings / hose codpiece (attached to hose) Corset Outer garments: Doublet (snug fitting jacket) separate sleeves breeches belt ruff (high frilled collar) cloak Shoes hat

Women's Clothing Underclothes: smock stockings corset hoop skirt small pads worn at hips petticoat kirtle (underskirt) forepart (half skirt) partlet (half shirt)

Women's Clothing Outer clothes: gown sleeves coat shoes hat

Crime and Punishment

Elizabethan Life – Crime and Punishment Nobility Crimes: treason blasphemy sedition (rebellion against the government) spying murder witchcraft alchemy (attempting to turn matter into gold) Commoners Crimes: theft cut purses poaching begging adultery debt fraud witchcraft

Elizabethan Life – Crime and Punishment Beheading was considered least brutal form of execution and was afforded to important state prisoners and nobility. If you were lucky, it only took a few strokes of the ax. The head would then be publicly displayed on a stake.

Elizabethan Life – Crime and Punishment The most brutal form of execution was being hung, drawn, and quartered. This was reserved for those convicted of treason.

Elizabethan Life – Crime and Punishment Torture was used to obtain confessions for crime. Types of torture: The Rack Branding Irons Water Torture

The Wheel The Thumbscrew Iron Maiden The Collar

Leisure

Elizabethan Life - Leisure Archery Bowling Dice Hammer throwing Wrestling Dog / rooster fighting Bear / bull baiting The theater

Elizabethan Life - Leisure Elizabethan theater begins in 1576 Outdoor amphitheaters used in summer (like The Globe) – available for most people to attend because of the price Indoor theaters, called Playhouses, were used in winter and attended by royalty

Elizabethan Life - The Globe There were many terrible disasters which closed the Globe theatre - the Bubonic Plague was the most terrible of all. Frequent outbreaks started in 1563: In 1603 the Bubonic Plague again ravaged London killing over 33,000 people The Bubonic Plague struck London in 1608 and the Globe Theatre was closed again The impact of Globe Theatre closure must have been catastrophic for the actors and the the threat of catching the Bubonic Plague was terrifying. There would have been no money coming into the theatre companies. It would not have been certain when it would be safe for the Globe Theatre to re-open. Most of the Actors, including William Shakespeare, fled to the country during the outbreaks of the Bubonic plague.

Elizabethan Life - The Globe The next disaster which closed the Globe theatre was the fire of 1613. The Globe theatre fire accident occurred on 29 June 1613 and the original Globe burned to the ground. The facts surrounding the fire disaster are as follows: The Globe Theatre Fire occurred during a performance of a new play called All is True. Cannons were being shot off at the point in the play which describes the entry of King Henry attending a Masque at Cardinal Wolsey's house The Globe Theatre burned to the ground in less than two hours There were no deaths or serious injuries The Globe Theatre was rebuilt in 1614 The Globe theatre was closed for good in 1642. The Puritans(protestant, religious group) forced all theaters to be demolished because they believed the theater led to bad behavior.