The Age is Elizabethan Years: 1558-1603 Major Political Figures:
Queen Elizabeth-Her reign marks the end of the Tudor Era, and the English Renaissance.
Sir Francis Bacon- A political philosopher of the time. Pushed for reform in education and science in England.
Major Events:
English Reformation- The English Reformation is marked by struggles over religion. At this point many English Subjects. The struggle was over how much like the Catholic Church the Church of England was perceived to be.
Beginning of the European Colonial Age- Began as a search for trade routes to the “Far East.”
Art and Authors:
Shakespeare- The famous playwright, a member of the Lord Chamberlain’s men who were the leading company in London until Queen Elizabeth died. Later he was a part of the King’s Men, whose patron was King James I.
Marlowe- A contemporary of Shakespeare, a playwright. He was a part of the University Wits, a group of playwrights and writers who were college educated and became popular playwrights.
Edmund Spenser- A poet who is known for his poem The Faerie Queen.He is credited with being one of the most important poets of the Elizabethan Era.
Sir Walter Raleigh- An explorer and writer. He founded the Roanoke Colony, which failed and is now known as the Lost Colony.
Niccolò Machiavelli- An influential philosopher who focused on political theory. Famously wrote The Prince an exploration of power.
Religious Movements:
The Majority of England at the time of Queen Elizabeth was some form of protestant Christian. People either fell under the header of the Church of England or were Puritans. The Church of England believed that the monarch was the head of the church, much like a Pope. Puritans wanted to purify the Church of England of any parts they believed to be left from the Catholic Church that they believed to be corrupt and not befitting the gospel. This included having a figurehead at the top, in this case the Queen.