Elizabethan Age History

The era called the Elizabethan England was a time of many developments and was considered as the Golden Age in English history. This era was led by Queen Elizabeth I, the sixth and the last ruler of Tudor.The great developments and advancements that happened during this time can be partly attributed to the leadership of the Queen. For many, Queen Elizabeth I was England's best monarch. Many considered the Queen as a wise and just Queen and chose the right advisers and never let herself get dominated by these advisers.She ruled the era for 45 fruitful years.The Elizabethan era which Queen Elizabeth I ruled and led for 45 years was the height of the English Renaissance and the time of the development of English poetry and literature.Shakespeare took the lead in advancing the country's literature and wrote a number of great works during this time. The fine arts also took great strides. When Queen Elizabeth I was the Queen, Nicholas Hilliard was considered as the most widely recognized figure in the field of fine arts. Also George Gower also started to make making his mark in fine arts. The 1580s of the Elizabethan era also saw the emergence of the writings of the University Wits composed of Marlowe, Greene, Lyly, Kyd and Peele.Their work defined the London Theater during the Elizabethan era. Their collective work was based and grounded on medieval and Jacobean roots, but that didn't stopped and the group eventually produced new dramas and comedies and made use of Marlowe's blank verses. The group's work was commendable, but Shakespeare provided the best form of art and combined Elizabethan drama with classical sources.The era was also marked by exploration, expansion and the advancement of science and technology. The era saw the significant contributions of astronomers Thomas Digges and Thomas Harriot. A seminal work on magnetism was also published by William Gilbert titled 'De Magnete'. This was also the time of exploration. And much of the advancement in exploration can be traced to Sir Francis Drake, the person that circumnavigated the globe from 1577 to 1581. The era saw Martin Frobisher explored the Arctic, and this era was also the time when the first attempt for an English settlement in America was tried, the colony of Roanoke Island.The era also made marks in technological innovation. This was the era when the first spring-suspension coach was crafted and used and replaced the litters and the carts. The coaches then became fashionable and became the sports car of the next century.Elizabethan England's history saw a number of developments in terms of the creation of peace. The era was generally called peaceful as the battles between the Protestants and the Catholics and that between the Parliament and the Monarchy have subsided.The government of Elizabethan England was stable as well. The government was centralized, well-organized and very efficient. The era was also the time of great economic development. One improvement was the establishment of the first stock exchange by Sir Thomas Gresham, the Royal Exchange in 1565. The stock exchange was the first in England and one of the first institutions in Europe. The relative peace and prosperity encouraged a number of observers to point the Elizabethan era as the 'Golden Age'.

Elizabethan Age Marriages

Comparable to these days wherein every woman would look forward to that day when they have to walk in the aisle, Elizabethan marriages was also one of the highlight of every woman's life. The chief difference is, back then; the woman possesses very little right in choosing her husband.It is foolish to marry someone because of love even if love may occur sometimes in marriage. The matrimony is arranged by families of the bride and the groom in order for the two sides to benefit from one another.Mostly, it was arranged for wealth and reputation. Families of landowners were expected to marry just to augment their land possession.Couples may even only see each other for the first time during the wedding day itself! This was rampant among lofty nobility, however people in the lower class would normally arranged the marriage with the children of friends and neighbors.Thus, the lower the status a family holds in the society then the larger power a person may have in choosing lifetime mates. Because of this practice, the marriage will too often fail.Among the famous couple who experienced disastrous marriage were Lord Darnley and Mary Queen of Scots; Robert Dudley and Amy Robsart; and Edward earl of Oxford and Anne Cecil. Still, successful marriage is not a myth since there were the 2nd Earl of Bedford and his 3rd countess: and 7th Baron and Lady Berkeley.Elizabethan Era marriage normally takes place through the help of a miniature picture given by the man. The picture is a symbolism of the traits and looks of the girl he wishes to marry. Women were regarded as second class citizens and they were expected to tie the knot despite of their social standings.Single women were regarded as witches. With parent's consent, a boy and a girl were allowed to marry at the age of 14 and 12 although it was not common for marriage to take place on such a young age. Boy would often not marry until they reached the age of consent, 21.Ironically, the dowry in marriages in Elizabethan England would benefit the male. A dowry is a certain amount of cash, property, and goods that bride would bring during the actual ceremony. It is known as her share.The husbands were given all the rights to take over their wives thus the girl would became the man's property.Like today, Elizabethan England marriage ceremony was considered to have a religious intonation. The ceremony would vary but the prerequisites before the matrimony was always the same.It commenced with the Crying the Banns in where the intention of the couples to marry was made into public. It will be announced into three consecutive Sundays or Holy days thus when there were any objection, at least such party was given the time to speak out. Wedding invitations were not provided.Gifts were rarely offered but it was their tradition to celebrate the occasion with a blast thus the event is carefully planned beforehand. The menu comprise of exotic dishes like peacock.

Elizabethan Era

The Elizabethan Era!The English Elizabethan Era is one of the most fascinating periods in the History of England. The Elizabethan Era is named after the greatest Queens of England - Queen Elizabeth I. The Elizabethan Era is not only famous for the Virgin Queen but also for the era itself - Great Explorers, such as Sir Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh. The era of the very first Theatres in England - William Shakespeare, the globe Theatre and Christopher Marlowe! The people of the era - the Famous Figures who featured in the history of this era such as the Queen's love Robert Dudley, the sinister Dr. John Dee, the intrigues of the spy-master Sir Francis Walsingham and the Queen's chief advisor Sir William Cecil (Lord Burghley). Religion - Politics - Executions - Crime and Punishment all played their part in the Elizabethan era! And so did the commoners!

The Golden Age of the Elizabethan EraWhat was their life like? Entertainment, clothes, food, drink, sports, music, education, language, medicine and marriage customs and culture of the era. Facts and information about all of these subjects and the history of the era are covered as detailed in the sections below! The Elizabethan Era Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts provided about the fascinating subject of the Elizabethan Era!

England during the Elizabethan EraThe section and era covering Elizabethan England provides the History, Facts and Information about the  Religion, Laws, Tortures and Punishments including executions in the Elizabethan Era.

Crimes and Punishments Executions Tortures Religion Politics, spies and intrigue The Law - the Poor Law The Tower of London

Queen Elizabeth I and the Elizabethan eraThe section and Queen Elizabeth I  provides the History, Facts and Information about the life of Queen Elizabeth. The Biography and Timeline of Queen Elizabeth covers her family, her childhood, the scandals and danger that surrounded her as a young Princess and her succession to the throne of England and the commencement of the Elizabethan era. The court, her favorites and the dangerous politics of the Elizabethan era.

Elizabethan TimesThe section and era covering Elizabethan Times provides the History, Facts and Information about the  life and times of the famous people who lived during the Elizabethan Era. The Famous Elizabethan Women of the era and the famous men. There are Biographies, Pictures and Timelines about the life of famous Explorers, Courtiers, Politicians, Dramatists and Poets who lived during the Elizabethan era.

Sir Francis Drake Sir Walter Raleigh Mary Queen of Scots Sir Francis Walsingham William Shakespeare Christopher Marlowe John Dee Lord Robert Dudley And many more!