Elizabethan TimesThe times of Shakespeare and other

Bards.

The Name

• The Elizabethan age gets its name from the monarch in England at this time…– Elizabeth I• From roughly 1558-1603

To understand the Elizabethan age you must understand the monarchs and changes before her reign.

There were many changes and it was an unsteady time for England.

The Monarchs That Came Before…

• Henry VIII• Edward VI• Jane Grey (iffy)• Mary I• Elizabeth I

Henry VIII of

England

1491-1547

Henry VIII

• Second eldest son to Henry VII and Elizabeth of York.

• England had just had a HUGE fight to see which family would rule England…The war of the Roses.

• Henry’s parents were the product of that fight.

• Older brother married Catherine of Aragon but soon died.

Henry VIII…again

• Henry VIII now had the crown!• He married his brother’s wife Catherine of

Aragon• Had Mary• Wanted a son…It must be the wife’s fault?!?!• Asked for a divorce…pope says no• Made a new religion…Anglican Church

The Wives of Henry the VIII

Henry VIII…Some MoreThen he went through SEVERAL wives…Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves,

Catherine Howard and Catherine ParrEach of them had different fatesEach wife had a different story but Henry left

England with 3 children… Mary IEdward VIElizabeth I

Edward VI of

England

1537-1553

Edward VI

• Edward…protestant and is controlled by his Uncle John Seymour.

• He gets the throne at the age of 9. • He dies at 15 but names Jane Grey, his

cousin, as successor.• She was queen for 9 days and was killed by

Mary I

Lady Jane Grey

1536-1554

Mary I of England

1516-1558

Mary I

• Mary restores England to Catholicism• She kills all who appose her.• She imprisons her sister in the tower of

London• Mary I marries her cousin King Phillip of Spain• She gets the name “Bloody Mary”• She dies childless

Elizabeth I of

England

1533-1603

Elizabeth I

• She became queen at the age of 25• The main question people had was “who will

she marry?”• She never married.• She later stated she was married to England

and its people.• She got the name “The Virgin Queen”• The state of Virginia is named after her.

Elizabeth’s list of suitors1559 Philip II 1559 Prince Eric of Sweden 1559 Son of John Frederic, Duke of Saxony 1559 Sir William Pickering 1559 Earl of Arran 1559 Henry Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel 1559 Robert Dudley 1560 King Eric of Sweden 1560 Adolphus, Duke of Holstein 1560 King Charles IX 1560 Henry, Duke of Anjou 1566 Robert Dudley 1568 Archduke Charles 1570 Henry Duke of Anjou 1572- 1584 Francis, Duke of Alencon, later Anjou.

Elizabeth I

• Since she is female many believe that she can not lead. Even though she is female they still are considered inferior.

• A woman could not be the head of the church.• She led England into a golden age of

monetary, military, art, and literature. It was the renaissance.

What was it like back then???

• Death Rate was twice what it is today. • The Birth Rate is THREE times what it is

today!• The Country becomes suburban• 1 in 8 people live in London at some point.• Life expectancy: 30 years• ½ of all children die by the age of 15• No hospitals

Bubonic Plague, Black Death, The Plague

• A disease spread by the fleas on rats• Increase in sewage in urban areas caused an

increase in rats• Affected the lymphatic system• Gland areas would turn black• The bacteria would go septic and kill the

infected person

If you are squeamish

look away!!!

The Plague

• People have to be quarantined• Looting and Violence Breaks Out• Playhouses and public areas closed• Lose of Revenue ($)• 1564: Stratford-upon-Avon– Out of 800 people– 254 are killed

Why did it happen?

• Poor Sanitation•More people in urban areas• A bad wheat harvest in 1590• Vitamin Deficiency

Sounds Bad! What is the good side?

• The first theatres were built in England• Literature and Theatre flourished• People made 50% more money than they did

under her father.• England had MANY military victories

including over the Spanish Armada• England goes from debt to a surplus• Religion was stable and people were free

from persecution.

Food

• The food varied depending on your status• Royalty had lots of meat and vegetables that

commoners did not• This lead to a longer life expectancy

Daily Commoners diet

• ½ lb. bread• 1 pint of beer• 1 pint of porridge• 1/4 lb of meat.