Social Classes In Elizabethan England

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William Shakespeare’s birth is presumed to be April 23, 1564. He was raised in Stratford, England, but his job was in London. He wrote plays and acted in them. He was educated at the grammar school of Stratford. He died on April 23, 1616. There were six social classes in Elizabethan England. The monarch, who was Queen Elizabeth I at the time, was at the top of the social pyramid. The nobility came after her. The lords and ladies of this class owned vast estates and were extremely wealthy. The first-born son inherited his father’s noble status. The monarch made sure that the nobility wasn’t too big so that they wouldn’t take away their power. The gentry were the third most powerful class in Elizabethan England. Knights and certain men and women were a part of the gentry. They ranked number …show more content…

Historical plays were performed there, some of which were written by William Shakespeare. During this era, people sought jobs in towns rather than in rural areas. Wool trade increased, which resulted in less farming. The clothes that people wore during the Elizabethan era represented their social status. The clothes worn by the upperclassmen were fancy and extravagant. The robes of the Queen’s family were embellished with ermine. Laborers wore inexpensive leather, cotton, and wool clothes. The robes of the nobility were made with sumptuous and radiant dyes. Women wore gowns, corsets, hats, and shoes. Wealthy women donned petticoats underneath their skirts and corsets. Men wore doublets, trousers, hats, and shoes. People in the lower classes ate fish, cheese, bread, and beer. The wealthy Elizabethans ate a variety of meat and seafood, such as fish and pork. Some people ate fruits and vegetables, but the people mostly ate meat and bread. Tomatoes, turkeys, and legumes came to England through trade, but were not often eaten. The Elizabethans loved sweets such as custard. I will be bringing in

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