what was it like during the Elizabethan era?

Answer 1

lots of info here for you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabethan_era

Answer 2

If you mean Elizabethan England, I've often thought it must have been a lot like contemporary America.

Vast wealth for some, combined with crushing poverty for many, a government that gets involved with wars it isn't very good at, high levels of public profession of religion but a lot of private high living and sexual deviancy. Rampant fear of an underclass of poor and dispossessed people. You could even make the claim that Hollywood is the equivalent of the Elizabethan dramatists - tho you'd be hard pressed to say who is the current Shakespeare.

The major differences being that America is the superpower now and England was still a small fish but growing bigger and nastier all the time. And that in Elizabeth, England had a leader of genius - not without her flaws of course - but lightyears ahead of the Bush mob.

If you're really interested, can I recommend "1599 - A Year in the Life of Shakespeare" by James Shapiro. A fascinating look at that single year - you don't have to know anything about his plays to get a real sense of what the times were like.

Answer 3

It was a time of extremes. You had extreme wealth built up by the tea trade and other overseas investments contrasted with the extreme poverty of some areas of the cities.

Cleanliness was not common. Even at the court they had problems with infestations of pests. When the problems got to be too bad, the court packed up and moved to a different residence (hopefully leaving the worst of the pests behind). One of the pests was a wig bug. Ever hear the expression "snug as a bug in a rug"? That refers to the bugs that infested the ornate wigs. They were hard to get rid of.

Oh, small pox was a real problem. Even Queen Elizabeth contracted it. One of the reasons for her ornate wigs and heavy makeup was the pox scars and her hair loss from the fever. I don't know how old she was when she got it.

The Elizabethan era DID bring out the best of the arts. Although Henry VIII was also a patron of the arts, Elizabeth was even better known as a patron. During her lifetime both Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare wrote their best plays.

There was, of course, a method behind the madness. Providing entertainments for city dwellers helped to keep the peace. People had something to do. Same reason the Romans had the circuses and we have rock concerts and football.

For book references, try the fictional diary of Princess Elizabeth and books on the Tudor family by Jean Plaidy.

For movie references, watch:

Shakespeare in Love
Lady Jane Grey
Queen Elizabeth
A Man for All Seasons

Answer 4

Well, isn't Queen Elizabeth alive now - so I guess it could be an Elizabethan era now - so, Labour in control, taxes high, services crap - there's your answer!

If you want to know about the 'other' Elizabethan era - I haven't got a clue - I wasn't born so you'll have to read up on it!

Answer 5

nicely, there have been few Jews in Elizabethan England considering the undeniable fact that they had all been expelled from the country interior the thirteenth century, throughout the reign of Edward I. They have been seen with suspicion because of the fact of their diverse faith and customs. a similar replaced into authentic in different international locations in this era, nevertheless there replaced into extra tolerance for Jewish communities in some international locations than in others, yet in an age that took faith very heavily, everyone no longer working in direction of the everyday faith of the country replaced into in danger of be seen with suspicion. Jews stored to their very own faith and their very own customs, and this made them in danger of persecution.

Answer 6

This was the time in which Shakespeare lived so the best way to find out some thing of his live and times.

Answer 7

everything was very extreme during her reign even her violent temper

Answer 8

Quite sorry, but I don't really remember... I think I liked it!