The Elizabethan era is a time period of the reign Queen Elizabeth 1 and it is often referred to as England's Golden Age due to great events happening. Such events like English Literature Advancing , the economy prospering, and the defeat of a Spanish Navy Fleet.
What is the Elizabethan era?
The Elizabethan Era is a time where Queen Elizabeth I ran England. This is sometimes called the Golden Age of England because Elizabeth was such a strong ruler she gained the "loyalty and admiration" of her people, and it was a period of great accomplishment in England. "Elizabethan Age, or Elizabethan Era, was a period of English history during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, from 1558 to 1603. Elizabeth was a strong ruler who gained the loyalty and admiration of her subjects. The Elizabethan Age is sometimes called the Golden Age, because it was a time of great achievement in England" (Bumgardner.) Queen Elizabeth I was a strong ruler who gained her peoples loyalty. She appeared as a strong leader to gain her peoples loyalty. This is called England's 'Golden Age' due to their achievements. This era is full of fascination for this period of England. The era itself, 'Elizabethan Era' "is named after the greatest Queens of England. This era is not only famous because of the Queen herself but also the era itself. "The English Elizabethan Era is one of the most fascinating periods in the History of England. The Elizabethan Era is named after the greatest Queens of England - Queen Elizabeth I. The Elizabethan Era is not only famous for the Virgin Queen but also for the era itself" (Alchin.) This Era is named after Elizabeth I for her major role. Elizabeth I was a virgin queen, maybe that helped people like her so much.
Events in the era
English Literature blossomed during Elizabeth's ruling. Many English writers did great work, most known of them is The William Shakespeare. This could have helped for acting out plays and Masques. "English literature flowered during Elizabeth's reign with the works of such great writers as Francis Bacon, Ben Jonson, Christopher Marlowe, Edmund Spenser, and—above all—William Shakespeare. Notable composers from this period include Thomas Tallis and William Byrd....They acted masques, pageants, and plays at Christmas and other special times" (Morril.) English literature had boomed with its many great writers like William Shakespeare. With this it most likely help with the quality of plays. This shows how the Elizabethan Era really is England's Golden Age. England's economy boomed. Elizabeth's court became a holy ground to musicians, scholars, and writers.Elizabeth was a strategic ruler even in dark times of foreign threats. "England's economy also prospered. Elizabeth's court became a center for musicians, scholars, and writers. Elizabeth was a strong and clever ruler, and she succeeded in furthering England's interests despite foreign threats and religious unrest at home" (Gibbs.) In the Elizabethan Era the English economy thrived under her reign. Showing that the Elizabethan Era really was a Golden Age for England. Queen Elizabeth was a favored and powerful ruler.
In foreign relations, Elizabeth avoided war with Spain until she knew she could strengthen the English navy. Under Elizabeth's reign, England prospered in many areas. Merchants especially as they formed the great trading company in 1600. "In foreign affairs, Elizabeth played for time, avoiding war with Spain until England’s navy became strong. Under Elizabeth, England advanced in many areas. Merchants formed a great trading company, the East India Company, in 1600" (Morril.) In the Elizabethan Era war was avoided until the Queen could boost her navy's capabilities.Also, England was advancing in many regions especially in foreign trade. The Navy of England defeated the Spanish fleet, and with confidence English merchants and sailors challenged the Spaniards around the world. "The English navy defeated a powerful Spanish fleet, and English merchants and sailors challenged the Spaniards with greater confidence around the world" (Gibbs.) Elizabeth wanted to wait to challenge anybody until her navy got stronger, knowing she did that, she won.
William Shakespeare was born somewhere around the time of April 23rd,1564, in a market town near London. He attended nothing more than grammar school to study Latin. "We know that William was born the third of eight children around April 23rd, 1564, in Stratford, a market town about one hundred miles northwest of London.... William attended grammar school where he studied Latin grammar, Latin literature, and rhetoric" (Anderson.) This ties in with the era because the day he was born is a major event for the Elizabethan era. The era's fame for advancing literature could not have been the same without him.
Important People
Many great people came out of this era. For example; explores Sir Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh. Even William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe. A lot of new people and things came out of this era. "Great Explorers, such as Sir Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh. The era of the very first Theatres in England - William Shakespeare, the globe Theatre and Christopher Marlowe!" (Alchin.) It is now clear that with the people that came out of this era it helped make it become so great.From the explorers to the writers, they helped give it the nickname the Golden Age.
While Elizabeth ruled, she created a religious ground called the Protestant Church of England, which is the country's national church. Another major thing she did was the she avoided war with Europe's leading Roman Catholic nations. "During Elizabeth’s reign, she achieved a religious settlement that established a moderately Protestant Church of England as the country’s national church. She also long avoided war with Europe's leading Roman Catholic nations" (Bumgardner.) These two large events fit with showing how Elizabeth was a strong leader. This also fits in with how this was England's Golden Age by showing how she avoided war and created a national Church. The most famous writer the world, William Shakespeare. He left us with nothing personal, just poems and plays. "He is the most famous writer in the world, but he left us no journals or letters--he left us only with his poems and plays. What we know about William Shakespeare's personal life comes mostly from church and legal documents---a baptism registration, a marriage license, and records of real estate transactions" (Anderson.) This is a main writer of the era. This shows relation to it because the era would not be the same without him. The era is known for its literature, and it would not have come as far as it did if it weren't for William Shakespeare.
Works Cited
Alchin, Linda. “Elizabethan Era.” Siteseen Ltd, 1 Mar. 2015, www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/. Accessed 4 Dec. 2016.
Anderson, Robert. “William Shakespeare’s Life: A Genius from Stratford.” Holt Literature & Language Arts: Mastering the California Standards: Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, by G. Kylene Beers et al., Austin, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 2003, pp. 776-77.
Bumgardner, Jake. “Elizabethan Age.” World Book Advanced. World Book, 2016. Web. 1 Dec. 2016.
Gibbs, Gary G. “Elizabeth I.” World Book Advanced. World Book, 2016. Web. 4 Dec. 2016
Lander, Jesse M. “Shakespeare, William.” World Book Advanced. World Book, 2016. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.
Morrill, John S. “United Kingdom, History of the.” World Book Advanced. World Book, 2016. Web. 1 Dec. 2016