Sir Walter Raleigh was an explorer funded by Elizabeth in 1584 to establish an English colony in North America, though he didn’t lead until the end of Elizabeth's reign. His efforts aimed to create a location for attacks against the Spanish, raise England's reputation, and provide better opportunities for the poor. In 1585, Raleigh sent 107 colonists to Virginia, but by 1588, resources were diverted to combat the Spanish Armada. Raleigh’s attempts ultimately failed due to food shortages, disease, poor relations with locals, and inexperience. Despite this, profits arose from capturing Spanish ships, introducing the potato to England, and paving the way for future colonies, leading to the establishment of 13 successful colonies in the 1600s.

The desire for trade and profit spurred exploration during conflicts with Spain and the decline of the cloth trade. Queen-funded voyages of discovery returned with treasures, appealing to the wealthy. Advancements in ship design and firepower allowed for longer journeys, with the allure of adventure and wealth. The slave trade involved shipping goods to Africa for enslaved people, who were sold for profit to fund more ventures. Sir Francis Drake's circumnavigation from 1577 to 1580 aimed to attack Spanish forces due to personal grievances, leading to attacks on Spanish settlements, boosting England’s maritime reputation and causing tensions with Spain. Drake’s expedition involved 5 ships and 154 sailors, gaining significant wealth and enhancing England’s naval prestige.

Before Elizabeth’s reign, there were no permanent theatres; actors performed in public spaces. Miracle and mystery plays were common, but actors were viewed suspiciously as vagabonds. Queen Elizabeth and Dudley supported theatre as patrons, leading to the establishment of the first London theatre, ‘The Theatre’, followed by the Globe in 1599. Comedies gained popularity, but women were not allowed to perform. Entry fees varied: 1 penny for standing in the noisy, busy pit (the ‘groundlings’) and 3 pence for covered galleries that offered protection from rain. Wealthy patrons could sit on stage. The Globe, made with a thatched roof, used to perform in the afternoon but was at risk of fire. In 1613, a cannonball accident burned it down. Puritans condemned theatre as the work of the devil, claiming it encouraged laziness and disorder. The plague spread rapidly, and actors often performed at court under a censorship law enacted in 1572, which required play scripts to be approved to prevent criticism of the monarchy and rebellion

Between 1551 and 1601, the population rose from 3 million to 4.2 million, leading to increased food prices and a shift towards sheep farming. Common land was fenced off, largely benefiting the wealthy, causing rent prices to soar and adversely affecting low-wage individuals, orphans, the homeless, the sick, the elderly, and widows. Vagrants were viewed with suspicion, often associated with crime, prompting the Elizabethan government to classify the poor into two groups: the deserving poor, who could be helped, and the idle poor, who were to be punished. Vagabonds jeopardizing public safety faced severe penalties, including imprisonment or execution.

The Poor Rate, organized by justices of the peace, aimed to support the needy by funding charities. The Poor Relief Act of 1576 provided raw materials for the poor to earn a living, placing the burden of finding work for able-bodied individuals on towns. Those refusing assistance could be sent to houses of correction. The Vagabonds Act of 1572 instituted harsh punishments for vagabonds, including whippings and imprisonment for repeat offenders. Justices of the peace were responsible for maintaining a registry and collecting the national poor rate to provide food and shelter for the sick and elderly.

Gentry, incredibly wealthy, competed to build the largest and most stylish homes, characterized by symmetry and grandeur. They gained wealth from land ownership, holding 50% of land and wielding political power. The middling sort, consisting of independent tradesmen and craftsmen, included farmers who owned over 50 acres with luxurious homes featuring two floors, chimneys, and glass windows. They typically consumed beer, meat, and bread. The laboring poor made up half the population, lived in poor conditions, faced seasonal farming work challenges, and struggled to afford food or pay rent, relying on good harvests for survival.