Elizabethan+Era

media type="custom" key="2712923" __The Elizabethan Era__ Created by Chris McCarthy Beth Farris and Luke Niemkiewicz

 The Elizabethan Era was a period of prosperity for England. This era occurred during the rule of Queen Elizabeth I. In this era, many great plays were made. A famous play that came out of this era was Romeo and Juliet. To better understand the story, it is helpful to understand the time period when Shakespeare wrote it and how it affected his writing.  __Group Questions:__

1. When did this era begin and when did it end?

2. What type of music was popular during the Elizabethan Era and which key instruments were used in that music?

3. What clothing did people wear and what did people eat in this period?

4. What was the form of government during this era and how did it affect people?

5. What were the customs of people during this period?

6. What is a major reason why this era is so famous?

7. Who was the group of people who did not support the theater, and what did they do to stop the stageplays?

8. The restoration of power of which king helped resurrect the theater?

9. What were the Elizabethan Sumptuary Clothing Laws?

10. What were the major accomplishments and historical events of this era?

__Notes on the Elizabethan Era__

__Elizabethan Era Time Frame:__

· The Elizabethan Era started in 1558, the time when Elizabeth became Queen of England at age 25. · At this time, England was ruled by monarchy. · The Elizabethan Era lasted for 45 years, ending with the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603 · During this period, England emerged as a major political power with unparalleled cultural achievement. · Also, this was a period of great exploration, with one of the most prestigious achievements being the circumnavigation of the globe. · The Queen's tastes in fashion set the standard for the aristocracy and the rest of society. · The Queen's love of music, drama, and poetry made a society in which England's greatest writers, musicians, and artists found encouragement. · Elizabeth's court attracted the most talented individuals.

__Elizabethan Fashion/Food/Customs:__

· Fashion was decided on rank in the society and was enforced strictly, therefore, each class dressed according to their status in society. · Elizabethan Sumptuary Clothing Laws- laws that governed and enforced the strict policy of clothing during the Elizabethan Era and maintained the system of rank.



· Citizens could not wear whatever they pleased, they were forced to wear the clothes of their rank in society; this included certain fabrics, colors, and details. · Elizabethan food and drink varied according to status and wealth. · Meat was a sign of wealth in the early Medieval Era, but it became readily available to the public once population rose. · New World foods were being introduced during the Elizabethan Era. · Saw the introduction and expansion of many new foods, especially sugar. · Food was purchased from small markets or fairs. · Marriages would be arranged to bring prestige or wealth to the family. · Many couples met on their wedding day for the first time. · The women became the man’s property when she married.



__Elizabethan Theater:__

· Was a booming business and an easy way to make money. · Evolved from plays held on yards of inns, or inn-yards, to huge stone amphitheaters. · Theaters were regularly shut down due to diseases such as the Black Death or the Bubonic Plague. · Puritans opposed the theaters, and worked to set up new laws prohibiting their presence. · During the English Civil War, Puritans gained power and took total control over the stageplays. · The Puritan's reign ended with King Charles II coming to power; theaters were once again allowed.

__Elizabethan Music:__

· Music played an important role in the lives of the people who lived during the Elizabethan era. · The most popular Elizabethan musical instrument was the lute. · Others instruments used in this era included the violin, flute, and viol.



· Music was played from the soul. It reflected emotions. · Classical music was popular during this era. · William Byrd was one of Queen Elizabeth’s favorite composers.



__Intro:__

This is a podcast on the Elizabethan era, created by Luke Niemkiewicz, Chris McCarthy, and Beth Farris. The Elizabethan Era was a period of prosperity for England. This era occurred during the rule of Queen Elizabeth I. In this era, many great plays were made. A famous play that came out of this era was Romeo and Juliet. To better understand the story, it is helpful to understand the time period when Shakespeare wrote it and how it affected his writing.

__Chris' script:__  The story Romeo and Juliet was written during the Elizabethan Era in England. The Elizabethan Era began in 1558, at the time when Elizabeth became Queen of England at the age of 25. At this time, monarchy was the form of government in England and many customs alien to the modern world were present. This type of government forced the citizens of its country to do the bidding of its ruler. Marriages would be arranged to bring prestige or wealth to the family and couples often met on the their wedding day for the first time. Women also did not have equal rights and became the men's properety when they married. During this period, England emerged as a major political power with unparalleled cultural achievement. Also, this was a period of great exploration, with one of the most prestigious achievements being the circumnavigation of the globe and inventions such as the printing press. Not only new inventions were being made, but new varieties of food were becoming rapidly available and many foods were beginning to have an expanded use. Meat was a sign of wealth in the early Medieval Era, but it became readily available to the public once population rose. All of this was obtained at small markets or fairs. The Queen's love of music, drama, and poetry made a society in which England's greatest writers, musicians, and artists found encouragement. The Queen's tastes in fashion set the standard for the aristocracy and the rest of society and her court attracted the most talented individuals. The Elizabethan Era lasted for 45 years, ending with the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603. __ Beth's script: __  The theatre was very popular during the Elizabethan Era until its demise in 1642 lasting until 1649. Young entrepreneurs like Shakespeare became famous through plays, and it soon became a booming business. The theater tradition started on inn-yards, or plays that were held on the front yards of taverns, and grew into a huge entertainment business in London. The theater took off when James Burbage built the first large-scale theater, called “The Theater”. *Original isn’t it? The theaters took off, and soon acting troupes were started. Acting Troupes were groups of licensed actors that traveled looking for a “gig”. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'">The Acting Troupes made some people in London very angry. The Puritans disliked the troupes because they thought it promoted the spread of the Black Death which plagued London. Indeed, theaters did often close because of such misfortunes. Still, the Puritans were not to be silenced. They gained control over some aspects of the theater and in 1596 plays were not allowed to be held inside the City Limits of London. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'">During the years 1642 – 1649, the English Civil War broke out between the Puritans and the Royalists. The Puritans gained even more power, and with it they demanded that stageplays cease entirely, actors be whipped, theaters be torn down, and that attending audiences be fined 5 shillings. Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of England, but with his death in 1658, Puritan power starts to decline, along with their hold on theater restrictions. With the Restoration of King Charles II, theaters began to see the light of day again. Elizabethan fashion was based entirely on rank and the social class systems. Both women and men alike could not wear what they wanted, but rather what was enforced by the Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws. These laws were designed to keep the social classes separated and easy to distinguish within the city. Restrictions included everything from what type of fabric, colors, and details could be worn. Violations of these rules were hard and ranged from a fine to even death! <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'">Ladies that were upper class wore fine silks and furs in the colors of purple and gold, while ladies in the lower class dressed in wool or sheepskin in the color of browns, yellows, and greens. Conditions were generally the same for the gentlemen of the time. __<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> Luke's script: __ <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> During the Elizabethan era, music was a very crucial and important part of life and culture. Since they didn't have video games back then, people looked to music for a form of entertainment. Music back then came from the soul and was played to reflect the composer's mood. As stated before, the queen's love for music created an environment where prominent musicians emerged. Music consisted of several major instruments. These included the lute (guitar like and hollow body), flute, violin, and viol (a cello like instrument). These were all from the Medieval Era, but more refined. They are the ancestors of modern day instruments. William Byrd was one of Elizabeth's favorite composers, known especially for the song Sing Joyfully. Classical music was popular during this era. __<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'">Conclusion: __<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> We hope this podcast has helped you in your understanding of the Elizabethan era. Hopefully, now you are more familiar with it and better able to enjoy the play Romeo and Juliet.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> __Works Cited:__ <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/introelizperiod.html http://www.answers.com/topic/elizabethan-era http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-times.htm http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-131281384.html