I want to learn as much as possible about the Elizabethan age. Where can I find resources?

Question

I want to learn about the customs, society, culture, and dress of various peoples during this time period.

Answer 1

Elizabeth I was not the daughter of Katherine of Aragon. Her mother was Anne Boleyn, beheaded by Henry VIII, Elizabeth's father. Katherine's daughter was Mary (Mary Tudor/Mary I/"Bloody Mary"). Elizabeth was younger than Mary; their young brother was Edward VI, son of Jane Seymour. Elizabeth never mentioned her mother in her later life, although she had mementoes.

Reading books is an excellent way of immersing yourself in the period, and I thoroughly recommend Alison Weir's "Elizabeth the Queen" and "Children of England". They are well-researched and extremely readable, with a lot of personal information on the Queen and other people of the day.
http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/alisonweir/home.htm

Some of the sites mentioned above are a bit dodgy - some facts are wrong, but they are fine for a general overview. Here are three good ones to set you off:
http://www.tomecek.com/jay/
http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/elizabethanengland.html
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/wjhs/mediactr/englishpathfinder/romeo/
On speech: http://www.renfaire.com/Language/index.html

It is a fascinating period, and I wish I were starting to explore it again!

Answer 2

The library is your best resource. There are wonderful reference books on dress during this period.You'll find them in the theatre and stagecraft section. Actually, to learn about the culture, customs, society etc. get some of the plays from this period, as playwriters focus on what is vital to the period. Shakespeare's works, for example, give us vivid examples of the relationship between classes, and pokes fun at some of the customs of the time. So he is a great resource. There are not a lot of books available, and the ones that do exist aren't easy to read because of the Elizabethan English, but there are a few and if you're willing to wade through them, you'll get some very interesting insights into the period.
There are also some great books about Queen Elizabeth I, from an historical point of view, and these, too, will enrich your study. You will learn about how the Elizabethan court operated (it's absolutely unbelievable!!) and be amazed at the wide, wide gulf between the common people and the aristocracy.
Good luck with your search.

Answer 3

The first thing I suggest you do is read the literature of the time. Get a feel for the spirit and language. Read the Complete Works of Shakespeare a couple times and you'll be dreaming in Elizabethan English (yes, I have done this). Next, read a biography on Elizabeth I...I wish I could remember the one I read about her...it was spectacular. If the gal who wrote The Six Wives of Henry VIII has a biography on Elizabeth, that's the one I'd recommend reading. Shakespeare in Love, although fictitious, is a great way to get a good feel for the time period. The costuming is extremely accurate. There's a Shakespearean Cookbook that is mouthwatering and will give you a feel for the food of the time. There are also CDs that have the music of the time period as well. I think that should get you started. It's a vibrant, wondrous time period that I haven't grown tired of studying.

Answer 4

One of the first things to do is look on the Internet. If you're lucky, you might find some academic journals on the subject for free. I remember reading about this era of time in my Early European history class but I had forgotten the names of the books and the authors.

Here's a good idea; rent the film "Elizabeth" with Cate Blanchett. It may or may not be historically accurate but you can get a good idea of how they dressed and spoke. The best thing to do is watch films with those themes or read primary sources (sources that have no or little change from the original author) that are still in print.

Secondary sources (commentary and historical analysis) are good, too. I regret to say that I am not familiar with any scholars of this age since my expertise lies in Modern Europe. Google in books from the Elizabethan era or even in Amazon and you might get some good resources.

It's also wise to note that she was the first daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon (he divorced her to marry Anne Bolynn whom he beheaded to marry....etc. etc) and was regarded by her sister Mary to be "illegitimate" since Catherine was a cousin of Henry (the better word for illegitimate would be something I can't say here...starts with a b). Mary was a Catholic, Elizabeth was a Protestant.

Also, the people during this time in England all spoke the same language we're speaking now; it's just that it's worded differently (try reading Shakespeare sometime...which is actually quite enjoyable for me anyway).

Answer 5

The following links should be really helpful.

http://www.bardweb.net/england.html - influence on the arts - Shakespeare and other painters/explorers

http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-age.htm - This is the best page I have found, when doing research. It has clothing, history of her reign, the social standards, as well as the life people led in those times.

http://www.answers.com/topic/elizabethan-era - Simple overview of her life.

Answer 6

This site is a treasure trove of info; you'll spend some time surfing but it has links to answer almost everything you're asking.

http://www.elizabethancostume.net/

Answer 7

Your local library would be the best place to find that kind of information.

Answer 8

Have you heard of the public library system?????

Answer 9

Try http://www.wikipedia.org/