1. Elizabethan Era Shakespeare’s Theater
Garcia 2005

2. Queen Elizabeth I 1533~1603 Reigned 1558 ~ 1603
Daughter of Henry VIII & third in line for the throne
“Virgin Queen” (married to England)
Highly popular and influential political leader
Led England into a Renaissance of arts and sciences
Loved art, music, poetry, dancing and THEATRE; Shakespeare gave 32 performances at her court

3. Elizabethan Life: Life Expectancy
Low life expectancy, about 42 years old
Wealthy lived longer
Reasons: influenza, high infant death, sanitary conditions, Bubonic Plague

4. Elizabethan Leisure Life
Queen Elizabeth influenced England’s Renaissance Period
Very prosperous time for Poetry and Drama
Writers sought the Queen’s approval to obtain patronage
Limited to high social class and males: most people were illiterate

5. Elizabethan Fashion

6. Medicine

7. Beliefs Elizabethans believed in fate Highly superstitious
Many physicians still believed planets’ alignment determined a person’s health
Good and Evil in the world--nothing in between
God determined who would be punished or rewarded: “God’s will”
Children had no rights. Had to obey their parents
Women had to obey husbands

8. Bubonic Plague Bacteria that lived in rats
Humans were infected by fleas that lived on rats
Transmitted through water sources
1563: Major outbreak in London. Took 80,000 lives
Broke out again in 1578 when Queen Elizabeth took action. Ordered doctors to create cure and ordered public houses closed
Plague was stopped by The Great Fire of London (1666) that killed the rats
Plague greatly influenced Elizabethan life

9. William Shakespeare

10. Globe Theater Where most of Shakespeare’s plays were first presented
Plays were held during warmer months and during the day (no electricity)
Stage was a platform thrust into the pit
Theater brought social classes together
Playwright wrote for diverse audiences

11. Lower Tiers: “Groundlings”
Lower social class
Rowdy crowd, would eat, talk and yell out when inspired to
Responded best to dirty jokes and action, such as sword fights and clowns

12. Upper Tier: High Social Class
More educated class
Enjoyed plays that contained action, intrigue, elevated language and characters based on the upper class

13. Staging Little to no props or scenery
Costumes were based on how upper class dressed
Women were not allowed to act in plays until late 17th century (considered “daring”)
Women’s roles played by men or young boys

14. How different is life today, compared to the Elizabethan Age?
Garcia 2005