QUESTION: What sense do you get of what life was like in Elizabethan England? Try to include information on: The population, entertainment, religion, superstition, money, jobs, medicine, theatre.

Life in Elizabethan England -

Overview- 

Daily life in Elizabethan England varied according to status and location. It was the time of the Renaissance - new ideas in science and literature and all aspects of Elizabethan Daily life. Information and facts regarding, education, religion, the monarchy, Career Opportunities, Leisure, the Movement from Country life to Town life and the New World all of which effected Elizabethan Daily life.Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the world and became the most celebrated English sea captain of his generation. Sir Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Walter Raleigh sent colonists eastward in search of profit. European wars brought an influx of continental refugees into England, exposing the Englishman to new cultures. In trade, might, and art, England established an envious preeminence.

The population in London in the 16th century underwent a transformation. Its population grew 400% during the 1500s, swelling to nearly 200,000 people in the city proper and outlying region by the time an immigrant from Stratford came to town. A rising merchant middle class carved out a productive livelihood, and the economy boomed. But as well as growth the great plague of london also took a lot of lives away and decreased the population and not only that disaster there was also the great fire of london which too killed thousands upon thousands of people.

List of popular entertainment in Elizabethan England:

• Banquets - A ceremonial dinner honoring a particular guest
• Fairs - The Annual Summer Fair was often a bawdy affair
• Plays - Starting as plays enacted in town squares followed by the actors using the courtyards of taverns or inns ( referred to as Inn-yards ) followed by the first theatres ( great open air amphitheatres built in the same style as the Roman Coliseum ) and then the introduction of indoor theatres called Playhouses
• Mystery Plays - Re-enacting stories from the Bible
• Festivals - Celebrating Church festivals
• Dancing - Elizabethan dances enjoyed by the Upper Classes, Royalty and Nobility included the Cinque-pace, Galliard, Pavane, Roundel, Tordion and the Volta 
• Jousts / Tournaments - A series of tilting matches between knights
• Games and Sports - Sports and games which included archery, bowling, cards, dice, hammer-throwing, quarter-staff contests, quoits, skittles and wrestling
• Animal Sports - Including Bear and Bull baiting. Dog and Cock fighting
• Hunting - Sport followed by the nobility often using dogs
• Hawking - Sport followed by the nobility with hawks

       

      the comedians of the time were as follows - 

• Jesters - A fool or buffoon at Elizabethan courts
• Mummers - A masked or costumed merrymaker or dancer especially at a festival
• Minstrels - Travelling musician who sang of legends (declined in the Elizabethan era)
• Troubadours - Travelling musician who sang of courtly love (declined in the Elizabethan era)
• Acting Troupes - Travelling actors
• Jugglers - Also used tricks, deception, or fraud

Religion - 

The two major religions in Elizabethan England were the Catholic and Protestant religions. The convictions and beliefs in these different religions were so strong that they led to the executions of many adherents to both of these Elizabethan religions. 

THE PRIESTS

• Elizabethan Catholics firmly believed that Priests were the link between God and the people and that the Pope was ordained by God. 
• Catholic Priests were viewed as special and expected to devote their lives to God and remain unmarried and wear elaborate robes 
• Elizabethan Protestants believed that people could find God without a priest or a Pope and that Ministers were ordinary people who should lead normal lives and wear ordinary robes

SINS

• Elizabethan Catholics believed that Priests and the Pope were able to forgive sins - at a price. Gifts, or indulgences, were given to the church 
• Elizabethan Protestants believed that only God could forgive sins

ELIZABETHAN CHURCHES

• Catholics believed that Churches celebrate God and elaborately decorated with statues and shrines 
• Protestants believed that Churches should be plain allowing the people to concentrate on the sermons

Superstition and Witchcraft

New Elizabethan superstitions arose due to the fear of witchcraft and the persecution of witches. Women were those most often accused of being witches. There were 270 Elizabethan witch trials of 247 were women and only 23 were men. During the Elizabethan era people blamed unexplainable events as the work of witches - the Bubonic Plague, unexplained deaths or unpleasant illnesses, bad harvests or crop failures, the death of animals and unexplained fires. Those accused of witchcraft, or being a witch, were generally Old, Poor and Unprotected Single women, widows or 'wise women' (many kept pets for company - their 'familiars'). The fear of witches and their supernatural abilities led to the following superstitions:

• Superstition 1 - Witches were able to fly ( this explained how witches could move quickly across impossible distances. A broomstick was then added to the superstition as these became common household articles used by women)
• Superstition 2 - A witch was often portrayed as an old crone or hag ( with no man to defend her against accusations of witchcraft) 
• Superstition 3 - Witches are closely associated with living alone ( house in the wood) 
• Superstition 4 - Witches were known to keep animals like the Cat, Frog, Pig, Raven, Goat, Wolf, Goose, Crow, Bat and Mouse which were believed to be the forms adopted by a Witches Familiar (an evil spirit, in animal form, who was used by the witch to perform evil deeds and cast malevolent spells) 
• Superstition 5 - Witches brewed magic potions over a cauldron (Wise women had knowledge of herbs such as mandrake, datura, monkshood, cannabis, belladonna, henbane and hemlock)

Jobs - 

 

Jobs in Elizabethan England where for the most basic of things plus ones that showed an early interest in science at a very basic level here is a list of the main jobs at the time its a very long list -

APOTHECARY
An Apothecy dispensed remedies made from herbs, plants and roots. Elizabethan physicians were expensive and a priest often held this occupation, often the only recourse for sick, poor people 
ARTIST
Artists were employed in the later Elizabethan era by kings and nobles. At first an artist painted heraldic designs on early furniture and then it became fashionable for portraits to be painted
ASTROLOGER
An astrologer studied the stars and planets but regarded as a mystical person. 
BAKER
Bread was a daily staple of Elizabethan life, and good bakers were employed by Nobles in their castles.

BARBER A Barber had many occupations in relation to personal care. Barbers would cut hair but would also serve as dentists, surgeons and blood-letters. BLACKSMITH The Blacksmith was one of the most important, albeit lowly, occupations of the Elizabethan era. Blacksmiths forged weapons, sharpened weapons, repaired armor. BOTTLER A Bottler had a responsible occupation and was in charge of the Bottlery which was intended for storing and dispensing wines and other expensive provisions. BUTLER The Butler was responsible for the castle cellar and was in charge of large butts of beer. The room in the castle called the Buttery was intended for storing and dispensing beverages, especially ale. BOWER OR BOWYER The Bowyer manufactured bows, arrows and crossbows CANDLEMAKER The Candlemaker made candles to light a castle or palace. Candles were supplemented by lighting from torches, lanterns and rush dips. CARPENTER The occupation of the Carpenter was diverse. Carpenters built furniture, roofing, and wood panelling. Carpenter: a skilled craftsman who shaped or made things of wood. Carpenters were highly skilled and considered to be elite tradesmen CHAMBERLAIN Chamberlain - The title originated with an officer of a royal household who was responsible for the Chamber, which included the administration of the Queen's household's budget. This occupation was later extended to collecting revenues and paying expenses CHANCELLOR A chancellor was a secretary to a Noble or Royal person CHAPLAIN The Chaplain was responsible for the religious activities of a castle servants and Men at arms. The duties might also include that of a clerk and keeping accounts. A Priest would usually looked after the spiritual needs and confessions of the Nobles and their families CLERK A Clerk was employed to keep accounts CLOTHIER Clothiers made clothes for the nobles and required having a knowledge of various fine and expensive materials CONSTABLE Constable was the occupation of the person who had been appointed as Custodian, or in charge of, the castle COOK Cook was employed in the castle kitchens roasting, broiling, and baking food in the fireplaces and ovens. CORDWAINER A Cordwainer was a Shoemaker or Cobbler, a craftsman who made shoes COTTAR A Cottar was one of the lowest peasant occupations, undertaken by the old or infirm, who had a series of low duties including swine-herd,, prison guard and menial tasks EWERER A Ewerer brought and heated water for nobles FLETCHER The Fletcher crafted and manufactured bows and the flights of arrows GARDENER The Elizabethan Gardener needed a knowledge of herbs and plants. GONG FARMER Gong was another name for dung. HERALD OR HARKER A Herald was a knights assistant and an expert advisor on heraldry. The Herald (or Harker) would declare announcements on behalf of the Queen or Noble to the public. Normally this was done on a given day when the public would assemble at the base of a castle tower or in the town square and the Herald would shout out the news  HERBALIST A Herbalist was usually a member of a religious order such as a monk or friar who would plant and maintainmedicinal plants, roots and herbs. JANITOR The Janitor, or Porter, was responsible for a main Castle entrance and for the guardrooms. The Janitor also insured that no one entered or left the castle without permissionJESTER The Jester also referred to as the Fool entertained the Queen and the court KEEPER OF THE WARDROBE The room in the castle called the wardrobe was intended as a dressing room and storage room for clothes and used by the Queen and Upper Classes. The Keeper of the Wardrobe was in charge of the tailors and laundress. KNIGHT It was the duty of a Knight to learn how to fight and so serve their Queen according to the Code of Chivalry. Weapon practise included enhancing skills in the sword, battle axe, dagger and  MARSHAL Marshal was the officer in charge of a household's horses, carts, wagons, containers and the transporting of goods. MESSENGER Messengers were lesser diplomats of the lord who carried receipts, letters, and commodities. MINSTREL Minstrels provided Castle entertainment in the form of singing and playing musical instruments. Minstrels often would record the deeds of heroic knights in songs giving the knight great publicity and establishing respect and additional status MONEYLENDER Moneylenders were the Elizabethan bankers. PAGE The life of a castle Page would start at a very young age - seven years old. A Page was junior to a Squire. It was the duty of a Page to wait at table, care for the Lord's clothes and assist them in dressing. The Page was provided with a uniform of the colours and livery of the Lord. PAINTER Elizabethan castles ere highly colorful and the services of painters were often required PORTER The Janitor, or Porter, was responsible for a Castle entrance and for the guardrooms. The Porter also insured that no one entered or left the castle without permission PHYSICIAN Physicians were a very highly regarded and respected occupation. Bleeding, lancing and surgical procedures were practised. POTTER Potters were craftsmen of in clay, porcelain and early forms of ceramics. Basically they produced pots for cooking and storage and occasionally worked as sculptors. Potters were members of Elizabethan craft guilds REEVE The Reeve supervised all work on a lord's property. The Reeve ensured that everyone began and stopped work on time SCRIBE Most Scribes came from religious establishments where reading, writing and comprehension skills were learned. SCULLION Scullions were the lowest of kitchen workers whose duties included washing and cleaning the kitchen SHERIFF The sheriff was an important official of county who was responsible for executing judicial duties SHOEMAKER A Shoemaker or Cobbler or Cordwainer was a craftsman who made shoes SPINSTER Spinster was the name of the occupation given to a woman who earned her living spinning yarn. The Spinning Wheel was invented during the Elizabethan era. Later the term Spinster was used to describe any unmarried woman STEWARD The Steward took care of castle estates and household administration including the events in the Great Hall. SQUIRE A Squire was junior to a Knight. It was the duty of a Squire to learn about the Code of Chivalry, the rules of Heraldry, horsemanship and practise the use of weapons. It was also their duty to enter into court life and learn courtly etiquette, music and dancing. WATCHMAN Watchmen was an official at the castle responsible for security. Also night-watchman Medicine -  Elizabethan Medicine was extremely basic in an era when terrible illnesses such as the Bubonic Plague (Black Death ) were killing nearly one third of the population. The above picture is of an Elizabethan Physician. Just the sight of an Elizabethan Physician in his strange clothing, especially the weird mask, was enough to frighten anyone to death. But the Physicians clothes probably saved his life and prevented him contracting the illnesses and diseases of his patients such as the plague and typhoid. THE THEATRE! The era will always be remembered but not because of the queen  but because it was the era of the greatest play  to ever exist in history and present day shakspeares  plays have stood the test of time and will be performed for many more generations to come -  but lets go back to the beginning when he began writing his plays and they began being performed -  how they were done and where - one of the main differences of his plays being put on then to now is that the casts use to be only men the woman where played by men as woman were not aloud to be actors  at that time - but Shakespeare was not the only playwright at the time there were others such as  Christopher Marlow  Francis Beaumont  John Fletcher  Thomas Middleton & Thomas. A man called James burbage was an entrepreneur who founded the globe and introduced theatre to the people of london.

SHAKESPEARE 

Birth and childhood

William Shakespeare was probably born on about April 23, 1564, the date that is traditionally given for his birth. He was John and Mary Shakespeare's oldest surviving child; their first two children, both girls, did not live beyond infancy. Growing up as the big brother of the family, William had three younger brothers, Gilbert, Richard, and Edmund, and two younger sisters: Anne, who died at seven, and Joan.

Their father, John Shakespeare, was a leatherworker who specialized in the soft white leather used for gloves and similar items. A prosperous businessman, he married Mary Arden, of the prominent Arden family. John rose through local offices in Stratford, becoming an alderman and eventually, when William was five, the town bailiff—much like a mayor. Not long after that, however, John Shakespeare stepped back from public life; we don't know why.

Shakespeare, as the son of a leading Stratford citizen, almost certainly attended Stratford's grammar school. Like all such schools, its curriculum consisted of an intense emphasis on the Latin classics, including memorization, writing, and acting classic Latin plays. Shakespeare most likely attended until about age 15.

His first printed works were two long poems written in 1593 and 1594. William Shakespeare started writing plays because he realized that he had the potential to be a great playwrighter. He also enjoyed theatre and he realized that he could also act in them.

The Globe Theatre audiences

The Elizabethan general public (the Commoners) referred to as groundlings would pay 1 penny to stand in the 'Pit' of the Globe Theater. The gentry would pay to sit in the galleries often using cushions for comfort. Rich nobles could watch the play from a chair set on the side of the Globe stage itself. Theatre performances were held in the afternoon, because, of course, there was limited artificial lighting. Men and women attended plays, but often the prosperous women would wear a mask to disguise their identity. The plays were extremely popular and attracted vast audiences to the Elizabethan Theatres. There were no toilet facilities and people relieved themselves outside. Sewage was buried in pits or disposed of in the River Thames. The audiences only dropped during outbreaks of the bubonic plague, which was unfortunately an all too common occurrence during the Elizabethan era. This happened in 1593, 1603 and 1608 when all Elizabethan theatres were closed due to the Bubonic Plague (The Black Death). 

Who where the actors ?

Edward Alleyn (1566 - 1626)	Richard Burbage (1567 - 1619)	John Heminge (1556 - 1630)	William Rowley (1585 - 1642)
Robert Armin (1568 - 1615)	Henry Condell (1568 - 1627)	William Kempe (1560 - 1603)	William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Christopher Beeston (1570 - 1638)	Nathan Field (1587 - 1619)	John Lowin (1576 - 1659)	Joseph Taylor (1586 - 1652)

https://vimeo.com/10979676

The video above is a contemporary version of a midsummers nights dream - the difference between now and then is very apparent and the obvious is the obvious - firstly there are woman in the production which would have never happened prior so thats is a big big difference which comes with the development of society also it is done in a bollywood style which is stunning and vibrant and this would have never happened not only would it have been done in a traditional style there would be no actors in the cast of another ethnicity then white - even othello was played by a white man - and with the billywood style comes dancing unless there were reacting a ballroom scene or something along those lines there would have never been dancing or any singing or music that was not in the script - the use of acrobats in the modern day interpretation looks beautiful but would be seen as a circus performance and not be tolerated in the theatre. its very existing to see shakepeares work done in a variety of different ways because it keeps his work relevant and vibrant even though his words do stand the test of time. 

Hamlet at the national 

Coriolanus at the national 

these two adaptions are done quite traditionally but there are also some advance changes that would never had been possible in the 15th and 16th centuries - lighting for a start is something that add so much to a scene add drama and suspense which could of never been possible in shakespeares time - also the use of woman again is different - black actors would have never been used because of rasism at the time. stage production values will also be very different the money put into these modern plays are so great but this was not the case for the era.