What Was Life of A Commoner Like In Elizabethan England?
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Commoners lived a simple and plain lifestyle but had many rulers to follow. They were apart of a social class called Yeoman. The vast majority of the Elizabethan population was quite poor. The lower classes in England were mainly uneducated. Historians agree that daily life for the majority of Elizabethans had to do with working hard to earn a living.
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History of Elizabethan England
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MenMen
Men had the most role in society. They could buy land and become landowners or as trade workers. They had to work to support their families. The men were in charged of the decisions and the women were expected to abide by the men's word. They were expected to support the family by various occupations. Also, they were expected to advance the family members through influence and approval from wealthier people as well as families than their own. |
Women
Women had a more difficult life compared to men. Women were considered inferior to men by society. The Church believed this and quoted the Bible in order to ensure the continued respect of this principle. The protestant leader John Knox wrote: "Women in her greatest perfection was made to serve and obey man" (Knox, "Elizabethan Women"). They did not receive any type of education. Their main role were to learn how to govern a house and and keep the house clean. Their education would have been purely of the domestic nature to prepare for their only real career option for a girl, marriage. All Elizabethan women would be expected to marry, and would be dependent on her male relatives throughout her life. Women
Women had a more difficult life compared to men. Women were considered inferior to men by society. The Church believed this and quoted the Bible in order to ensure the continued respect of this principle. The protestant leader John Knox wrote: "Women in her greatest perfection was made to serve and obey man" (Knox, "Elizabethan Women"). They did not receive any type of education. Their main role were to learn how to govern a house and and keep the house clean. Their education would have been purely of the domestic nature to prepare for their only real career option for a girl, marriage. All Elizabethan women would be expected to marry, and would be dependent on her male relatives throughout her life. |
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Poor
This concern about the poor was the greatest during Elizabeth's time. It made every parish responsible for the poor and unemployed within that parish called the Justice of the Peace (JP's). Each parish was allowed to collect a tax from those who owned land in the parish. This was called the Poor Rate. It had two benefits. It made the poor feel that something was being done for them and made them feel less angry about the situation they were in. Also, some good work could be done by the poor within the parish to help that parish. The poor were divided into three groups. The first were called Helpless Poor. It included the old, the sick, the disabled and children. The elderly and the disabled received a sum of money.The second group was called the Able Bodied Poor. It had people who could work and wanted to work.The third group were known as Rogues and Vagabonds. This was the group targeted by the government. These were people who could work but preferred to beg or steal.
Fun Facts
This concern about the poor was the greatest during Elizabeth's time. It made every parish responsible for the poor and unemployed within that parish called the Justice of the Peace (JP's). Each parish was allowed to collect a tax from those who owned land in the parish. This was called the Poor Rate. It had two benefits. It made the poor feel that something was being done for them and made them feel less angry about the situation they were in. Also, some good work could be done by the poor within the parish to help that parish. The poor were divided into three groups. The first were called Helpless Poor. It included the old, the sick, the disabled and children. The elderly and the disabled received a sum of money.The second group was called the Able Bodied Poor. It had people who could work and wanted to work.The third group were known as Rogues and Vagabonds. This was the group targeted by the government. These were people who could work but preferred to beg or steal.
Fun Facts
- According to Fun Trivia. com, their were different superstitions which started to occur in the Elizabethan Era which there were witches, beliefs in magical animals, also people believed in good luck charms which would bring people lots of luck .
- Single Elizabethan women were sometimes looked upon with suspicion. It was often the single women who were thought to be witches by their neighbours.
- According to Slideshare. com, in the Elizabethan Era the Renaissance was going on which was when
Poor
This concern about the poor was the greatest during Elizabeth's time. It made every parish responsible for the poor and unemployed within that parish called the Justice of the Peace (JP's). Each parish was allowed to collect a tax from those who owned land in the parish. This was called the Poor Rate. It had two benefits. It made the poor feel that something was being done for them and made them feel less angry about the situation they were in. Also, some good work could be done by the poor within the parish to help that parish. The poor were divided into three groups. The first were called Helpless Poor. It included the old, the sick, the disabled and children. The elderly and the disabled received a sum of money.The second group was called the Able Bodied Poor. It had people who could work and wanted to work.The third group were known as Rogues and Vagabonds. This was the group targeted by the government. These were people who could work but preferred to beg or steal.
Fun Facts
This concern about the poor was the greatest during Elizabeth's time. It made every parish responsible for the poor and unemployed within that parish called the Justice of the Peace (JP's). Each parish was allowed to collect a tax from those who owned land in the parish. This was called the Poor Rate. It had two benefits. It made the poor feel that something was being done for them and made them feel less angry about the situation they were in. Also, some good work could be done by the poor within the parish to help that parish. The poor were divided into three groups. The first were called Helpless Poor. It included the old, the sick, the disabled and children. The elderly and the disabled received a sum of money.The second group was called the Able Bodied Poor. It had people who could work and wanted to work.The third group were known as Rogues and Vagabonds. This was the group targeted by the government. These were people who could work but preferred to beg or steal.
Fun Facts
- According to Fun Trivia. com, their were different superstitions which started to occur in the Elizabethan Era which there were witches, beliefs in magical animals, also people believed in good luck charms which would bring people lots of luck .
- Single Elizabethan women were sometimes looked upon with suspicion. It was often the single women who were thought to be witches by their neighbours. ("Elizabethan Women." Http://www.william-shakespeare.info. Web. 5 May 2015. )
- According to Ducksters.com, some of the favorite types of foods which the nobles liked to eat were big birds such as swans, herons, and also peacocks
- According to Ducksters.com, the dance of ballet was invented during this time of the Renaissance in the 15th and 16th centuries.
- According to Elizabethan England Life. com, the life expectancy of this time was up to 42 years excluding the rich people.
- According to Elizabethan England Life. com, the middle class and the lower class ate mostly vegetables and grains and the upper class people ate more sweet food items, also lots of different types of meat.