WEEK 1 - SETTING THE SCENE – LIFE IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND

 Population

Life in Elizabethan England life was either very luxurious or the complete opposite; depending on whether you were born into nobility had a significant impact on what your lifestyle. Those who were born into nobility were wealthy and powerful members of society. They lived profligate lives and if they were close to the monarchy could enjoy all the benefits of court life. However this was only affected a small percentage of the population, 97% of the population lived in extreme poverty. Most people lived in old, damp and miserable cottages in the countryside with minimal possessions. They lived in an agricultural society where growing your own food was the only way you would be able to eat. During this period there was a shift in the economical/societal model as the mediaeval feudal system was adapting to a new hierarchical scheme based around trade and barter with goods from the newly discovered world were making their way into Elizabethan Britain. 

Entertainment

In Elizabethan England, private entertainment didn’t exist. You were considered lucky if you had a court jester or a minstrel to sing you songs or tell you a story. The most common way to have fun was to entertain yourself. This meant that people listened a lot more; secrets and scandal were widespread everyone’s secrets were known. However there were constantly outbreaks of the bubonic plague which meant morale was low so the poor needed a way to lift their spirits, forms of entertainment that did this include: travelling actor troupes, banquets and feasts, festivals celebrating special events, social dancing, jousts and tournaments, hunting and of course plays. Most Elizabethan entertainment was public which meant there must have been a strong sense of community for these people.  

Religon

Religion played a significant role in Elizabethan England. Due to the reformation of the church by King Henry VIII many people were split between being Catholic or protestant. This became a very important choice in your life as if you didn't follow the practises of the dominant religion you could risk being executed. Therefore, you had to constantly change religion or face religious persecution. After the days where ‘Bloody Mary’ tortured non-Catholics for going back to another system must have made it very hard for the Tudor citizens and must have caused confusion in their faith.  

Superstition

Superstitions were so common that they almost became facts in these days. Witchcraft was seen to be a serious threat and magic was more than just a fairy tale or myth.  Witch hunts was a sexist way to control the female form and make sure that women did not educate themselves and remained domesticated mothers and wives. William Shakespeare added his topic to some of his most popular plays. The tragedy- Macbeth warns against dabbling with the supernatural as it can have dire consequences on your immortal soul. However, superstition could also be positive people would believe in fairies and the magic of the night and of the forest such as in Shakespeare’s comedy- A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This meant that their imaginations could easily be ignited with stories, poems and plays.

Trade

Trade was a crucial skill and men learned this by becoming an apprentice or learning from school. They would train for careers such as tailors, merchants, masons, smiths, shoemakers etc. Women were more likely stay at home and raise the children but to earn a bit more of your upkeep you made take up weaving to make clothes or even servitude as cleaning appliances didn’t exist at this point. 

Medicine

Tudor medicine hadn't evolved that much from medieval times meaning that life expectancy was very low and general health was quite poor. In the countryside most cures would be from herbal solutions passed down through "old wives tales". This meant that villagers would live off the land for everything including solutions to their ailments. In towns and cities however blood letting was still a popular cure. Patients would have leaches attached to them because it was believed that too much blood is bad for you. Only the rich and powerful could afford doctors so if you really injured yourself you better start praying!