Knowt
Elizabethan revision
Elizabethan Age (1558-1603) Overview
The Elizabethan Era, characterized by the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, was a time of significant political, cultural, and economic transformation in England. It heralded the emergence of English power on the global stage, a flourishing of arts and literature, and complex interactions with European nations.
Key People
Queen Elizabeth I: The prominent monarch who ruled from 1558 until her death in 1603, she is often credited with stabilizing England following the upheaval of previous reigns. Elizabeth's policies and personality greatly influenced national identity and culture.
King Philip II: The King of Spain, he was Elizabeth's chief rival on the European front. His attempts to assert Spanish dominance reached a peak with the launch of the Spanish Armada in 1588, which ultimately failed against English naval tactics.
Pope Pius V: As the head of the Catholic Church, his papal bull excommunicating Elizabeth in 1570 marked a significant turning point in the religious tensions of the period, leading to increased polarization between Catholics and Protestants in England.
Mary, Queen of Scots: Elizabeth's cousin, whose bitter rivalry for the English throne led to her imprisonment and eventual execution in 1587. Mary’s presence in England made her a focal point for Catholic conspiracies against Elizabeth.
Sir William Cecil: Elizabeth’s chief advisor and Secretary of State, he played a crucial role in shaping policy, especially regarding governance and foreign affairs during a time of considerable threat to Elizabeth’s rule.
Sir Francis Walsingham: The second Secretary of State, he was instrumental in developing a network of spies that foiled several plots against Elizabeth, highlighting the importance of espionage in state security.
Sir Francis Drake: A naval commander and privateer who gained fame by attacking Spanish ships and settlements, his victory against the Spanish Armada boosted English morale and reinforced national pride.
Sir Walter Raleigh: An explorer and writer who led efforts to establish colonies in the New World, he embodied the spirit of exploration characteristic of this age.
The Duke of Alba & The Duke of Parma: These Spanish leaders were key figures during the conflict in the Netherlands and the Spanish Armada, playing vital roles in Spain’s military objectives against Protestant states.
Thomas Percy & Charles Neville: Catholic Earls involved in the Northern Revolts, indicative of the unrest within England stemming from religious divisions.
Roberto Ridolfi, Francis Throckmorton, Anthony Babington: Notorious for their plots against Elizabeth, representing the ongoing Catholic threat to her Protestant reign.
Duke of Alencon: The French heir who sought an alliance through marriage with Elizabeth, reflecting the complex web of dynastic politics during this era.
Key Events Timeline
1558: Elizabeth ascends the throne, marking the beginning of the Elizabethan Age.
1559: Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement establishes the Church of England, striving for a middle ground between Catholicism and Protestantism.
1560s: The rise of Puritan and Recusant challenges, highlighting internal religious strife.
1566-68: The Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule, leading to a proxy war that involved England.
1569: The Revolt of the Northern Earls, which aimed to displace Elizabeth and reinstate Catholic leadership.
1571-86: Series of Catholic plots, including Ridolfi, Throckmorton, and Babington, which culminated in heightened security measures and political paranoia.
1587: Execution of Mary Queen of Scots; her death eliminated a primary Catholic claimant to the English throne.
1588: The Spanish Armada is defeated, marking a pivotal moment in naval history and solidifying England’s naval supremacy.
Early Threats and Problems for Elizabeth
Legitimacy Issues: Questions arose regarding Elizabeth's legitimacy due to the controversial circumstances surrounding her mother's marriage to Henry VIII.
Gender and Marriage: The expectations of a female ruler to marry created significant pressure on Elizabeth, who remained resolute in her choice to remain single, bolstering her image as the 'Virgin Queen.'
Financial Challenges: England faced economic difficulties, with a heavy reliance on Parliament for tax agreements, compounded by ongoing military expenditures.
Foreign Relations: Elizabeth’s foreign policy navigated tensions with France and Scotland, primarily fueled by the claims of Mary Queen of Scots.
Religious Tensions: The era was marked by a deep division between Catholics and Protestants, which influenced domestic politics and social order.
The English Reformation
The English Reformation laid the groundwork for the Elizabethan religious landscape, emphasizing discontent with the Catholic Church and the establishment of Protestantism under Henry VIII, which Elizabeth sought to balance with her Religious Settlement.
Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement (1559)
Act of Supremacy: Declared Elizabeth as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, asserting her religious authority.
Act of Uniformity: Established the modes of worship, creating a more standardized national religion to foster unity.
Royal Injunctions: Issued to guide bishops and clergy in church practices, aimed at reconciling differences between Catholics and Protestants, though faced criticism from more radical Puritans.
The Catholic Threat
Significant Plots Against Elizabeth:
Ridolfi Plot (1571): A scheme to assassinate Elizabeth and install Mary on the throne, showcasing the serious threats faced.
Throckmorton Plot (1583): Involving a foreign invasion and assassination, though thwarted through intelligence efforts.
Babington Plot (1586): Directly linked to Mary and leading to her execution, representing the culmination of the Catholic challenge.
The Spanish Armada (1588)
Reasons for Spanish Invasion: Motivated by Elizabeth's support for the Protestant Dutch rebels, political rivalry, and a desire to reassert Catholic dominance in England.
Defeat of the Armada: Factors contributing to the Spanish defeat included superior English naval tactics, weather conditions, and logistical challenges faced by the Spanish fleet, marking a significant shift in the balance of power in Europe.
Elizabethan Society Structure
Nobility: Monarch and aristocracy held the uppermost social positions, wielding considerable influence over governance.
Gentry: Wealthy landowners who often held positions in local governance, playing a key role in the social fabric.
Yeoman Farmers: Proud landholders who played a significant role in agriculture, representing a rising middle class.
Tenant Farmers: Individuals who worked land owned by others, often subject to economic pressures.
Landless Poor: Comprised mostly of agricultural workers facing displacement due to land enclosures; these individuals often lived in dire poverty.
Vagrants: Viewed as societal outcasts, they faced criminalization and harsh laws under emerging Poor Laws.
Issues of Poverty
Population Growth: The increasing population strained resources, exacerbating existing poverty levels and leading to social unrest.
Enclosure Movement: The grabbing of common lands for private use displaced many peasant families, pushing them into poverty.
Legislation: Poor Laws were instituted to manage the growing issue of poverty but often failed due to inconsistent application across different regions.
Elizabethan Culture
Leisure and Education: The era saw a flourishing of arts and culture, with significant developments in literature, theatre, and education.
Sport: Diverse recreational activities were popular, with the nobility engaging in hunting and hawking, while common folk played more accessible games like wrestling.
Theatre: Thrived during this period, with the works of playwrights such as Shakespeare and Marlowe representing the peak of English literary achievement.
Education: Education remained largely exclusive to the wealthy, centered in grammar schools designed primarily for boys, with limited opportunities for girls.
This intricate tapestry of individuals, events, and sociopolitical dynamics characterized the Elizabethan Age as one of the most remarkable periods in English history, with lasting influences that shaped the course of the nation.
Elizabethan Age (1558-1603) Overview
The Elizabethan Era, during Queen Elizabeth I's reign, was a period of significant transformation in England marked by political, cultural, and economic changes.
Key People
Queen Elizabeth I: Stabilized England; influential in national identity.
King Philip II: Rival of Elizabeth; attempted to assert Spanish dominance; defeated in the 1588 Spanish Armada.
Pope Pius V: Excommunicated Elizabeth, escalating Catholic-Protestant tensions.
Mary, Queen of Scots: Rival, imprisoned, and executed due to her claim to the throne.
Sir William Cecil: Key advisor shaping foreign affairs policy.
Sir Francis Walsingham: Developed a spy network to safeguard Elizabeth.
Sir Francis Drake: Naval commander; played a key role in defeating the Spanish Armada.
Sir Walter Raleigh: Explorer promoting New World colonization.
The Duke of Alba & The Duke of Parma: Spanish leaders involved in military objectives against England.
Thomas Percy & Charles Neville: Catholic Earls involved in Northern Revolts.
Key Events Timeline
1558: Elizabeth ascends the throne.
1559: Religious Settlement establishes the Church of England.
1569: Revolt of the Northern Earls against Elizabeth.
1588: Defeat of the Spanish Armada.
Early Threats and Problems for Elizabeth
Legitimacy Issues: Questions regarding her birth.
Gender and Marriage: Pressure to marry; remained single to bolster her image.
Financial Challenges: Economic difficulties reliant on Parliament for taxes.
Foreign Relations: Tensions with France and Scotland.
Religious Tensions: Division between Catholics and Protestants.
The Catholic Threat
Significant plots such as the Ridolfi (1571), Throckmorton (1583), and Babington (1586) plots against Elizabeth.
The Spanish Armada (1588)
Reasons for invasion: Elizabeth's support for Protestant rebels; rivalry and desire for Catholic dominance.
The defeat marked a shift in Europe's power balance.
Elizabethan Society Structure
Nobility: Upper social class; significant governance influence.
Gentry: Wealthy landowners in local governance.
Yeoman Farmers: Landholders contributing to agriculture.
Tenant Farmers: Worked lands owned by others.
Landless Poor: Faced economic pressures and poverty.
Issues of Poverty
Population Growth: Strained resources, leading to unrest.
Enclosure Movement: Displacement of peasant families.
Legislation: Poor Laws aimed to manage poverty, often inconsistently applied.
Elizabethan Culture
Flourishing arts and literature, with notable playwrights like Shakespeare. Education was primarily accessible to wealthy males.
This era was marked by complex dynamics that significantly influenced England's history, with effects lasting far beyond the 17th century.