Elizabethan society

‘Although the reign of Elizabeth I of England lasted from 17^th November 1558 to 24^th March 1603, most modern historians view the Elizabethan era more broadly. Many of the defining characteristics of the era were products of events in earlier periods, particularly the reign of Elizabeth’s father, Henry VIII.’

Historians often describe this era as the ‘golden age’ in English history. ‘Life in the Elizabethan era varied according to status and location. It was the time of renaissance. During this era, wealthy women were very subservient to men. They were dependent on their male relatives to support them whereas the poor including both men and women lived/worked in close family units and trades in villages.’

Elizabethan life (no date) Available at: 
http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-life.htm (Accessed: 3 December 2015).

Atwood, M. S. (no date) Renaissance costumes & Elizabethan clothing. Available at: http://www.costumesupercenter.com/elizabethanclothing.html (Accessed: 3 December 2015).

Book - Wagner, J. A. (1999) Historical dictionary of the Elizabethan world: Britain, Ireland, Europe, and America. Phoenix, AZ: Greenwood Publishing Group.

Hairstyling:

‘During the Elizabethan era, men wore their hair short, while women combed their long hair upwards where it was fixed with a wire frame that formed a heart shape. By the 16th century Queen Elizabeth became the main female icon and set the trends for the era. Her lily-white complexion and red tresses set women everywhere rushing for copious amounts of white face powder and red wigs.

Women strove to imitate her curly red hair, using different recipes for bleaching their hair. Some of these recipes used strange elements, including urine. False hair and wigs were commonly used during this era, as they were easier to manage. Red wigs were especially popular during this era.

Finally, elaborate headdresses entered the fashion scene during the Elizabethan period. A headdress known as a snood was a type of hairnet that became highly popular. Similar headdresses appeared, such as a bag-coif which featured a gathered bag at the back covering the wearer's head. The fabric of the bag could match the dress, or could be made of a plain black silk, covered with gold netting. In period portraits, cauls were made of fabric, or fabric covered by netted cord. Cauls were also frequently decorated with applied cord, couched or embroidered on, as well as pearls, gems, and other expensive decoration for the nobility.’

Hairstyles through the ages (no date) Available at: 
http://www.crystalinks.com/hair.history.html (Accessed: 3 December 2015).

Social structure – Elizabethan England had four main classes:

•       ‘The Nobility – a person’s class determined how they could dress, where they could live, and the kinds of jobs people and their children could get. A nobleman was rich and powerful and therefore during the reign of Elizabeth as well as the reigns of her father and grandfather, Henry VIII and Henry VII, all rarely appointed new nobles. They viewed the noble class as a threat to their power and liked to keep their numbers small. A person could become a noble either by birth or by grant from the king or queen. Nobility could lose their fortune, but it took a high crime like treason to lose their title.
•          The Gentry – these were knights, squires, gentlemen and gentlewoman whose fortunes were great that they did not have to work with their hands for a living. Their numbers grew rapidly, and became the most important class during Elizabethan time. They could start as a knight and through generations and marriages they could gradually build a wealth and title. Most of the important people of this time came from this class.
•          The Yeomanry – this was also known as the ‘middle class’ people. . They could live comfortably with the little savings they built up, but at any moment, be it illness or famine, lose everything. While the gentry spent their wealth building large homes, the yeomen used their wealth more simply and instead worked to expand their land and improve it.
•          The Poor – At the bottom were the Poor who for some reason or another found themselves without money, food, or shelter. Because their numbers were increasing, the Poor Laws were passed to assist them. Any Poor person found guilty of being able to do an honest day's work but who chose not to, could be sentenced to death.’

Overview of Elizabeth I - the historical association (no date) Available at: https://www.history.org.uk/resources/student_resource_4536,4543_166.html (Accessed: 3 December 2015).

‘Both men and women of the upper class took pride in their hair. In fact, the wealthy would spend long hours in a barbershop getting their hair done in fantastic styles. When upper class men went bald, they depended on wigs to help them to keep up with the latest hair trends. Fashionable wigs for men were either white or yellow. Men also cared a great deal about their facial hair. Many upper class men spent a lot of money keeping their beards groomed and fashionable.

For women, the most fashionable hair colours were blonde and red. In addition, it was considered fashionable for women to have high foreheads; so many women plucked their hairlines until the desired height was achieved. Some of the wealthy upper class women enjoyed wearing their hair in a small beehive on top of their heads. Women occasionally used hair accessories and hats, and many women liked to wear elaborate silk hairnets that were decorated with jewels and gold trimmings. Men enjoyed wearing fashionable hats as well, and it was common for a man of the upper class to wear a fine silk hat with a feather inside.

For their hair styles, both women and men of the lower class had a common style. They could have longer hair than before the Elizabethan time because the Queen allowed them to grow their hair longer. Women almost always braided their hair into one braid so that it was more comfortable when they were working.’

Fashion and classes (no date) Available at: 
https://elizabethantimeswiki.wikispaces.com/Fashion+and+Classes (Accessed: 3 December 2015).

Clothing – ‘Elizabethan clothes provided information about the social status of the person wearing them. Only royalty were permitted to wear clothes trimmed with ermine. Lesser nobles were allowed to wear clothing trimmed with fox and otter. Elizabethan laws dictated what colours and type of clothing individuals were allowed to own and wear, an immediate way to identify rank.’

ELIZABETHAN CLOTHING (no date) Available at:
http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-clothing.htm (Accessed: 3 December 2015).

Music – ‘this was an important form of entertainment and had developed into sophisticated and varied forms. The introduction of the theatre during the Elizabethan era was enhanced as the plays were accompanied by music. The different types of Elizabethan music were church music, court music, street music, theatre music and town music. All Elizabethans attended church on a Sunday which led to the popularity of hymns and secular songs. Instruments could be performed by Elizabethan musicians or simple songs and ballads could be sung in the villages/fields.’

ELIZABETHAN MUSIC (no date) Available at: 
http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-music.htm (Accessed: 3 December 2015).

Theatre – ‘the Elizabethan Era is perhaps most famous for its theatre and the works of William Shakespeare. English Renaissance theatre began with the opening of "The Red Lion" theatre in 1567. Many more theatres opened in London over the next several years including the ‘Curtain Theatre’ in 1577 and the famous ‘Globe Theatre’ in 1599. The period produced some of the world's great playwrights including Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. Today Shakespeare is considered the greatest writer of the English language. Popular genres of theatre included the history play, the tragedy, and the comedy.’

Renaissance for kids: Elizabethan era (no date) Available at: http://www.ducksters.com/history/renaissance/elizabethan_era.php (Accessed: 3 December 2015).

Food – ‘food and drink varied according to status and wealth. During the Elizabethan era meat was often a sign of wealth however as the population rose this was supported by improving agricultural techniques and inventions. The Elizabethan era also saw the introductions of different foods from other parts of the world. Food was purchased from markets and fairs. In larger cities like London there were specific markets which sold fish, dairy products or fruit/vegetables. Meat was sold at large livestock markets.’

ELIZABETHAN FOOD (no date) Available at:
http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-food.htm (Accessed: 3 December 2015).

Sports – ‘various sports were played and watched and formed much of Elizabethan entertainment, especially for the nobility. Elizabethan games and sports included archery, bowling, wrestling, hunting, hawking etc. The Elizabethan era was dangerous and violent. Blood sports were enjoyed involving bears, bulls, cocks and dogs.’

Elizabethan sports (no date) Available at: 
http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-sports.htm (Accessed: 3 December 2015).