📜

Elizabethan I- Lecture

Mar 19, 2025

Lecture Notes: Elizabethan Era and Key Historical Figures

Introduction

  • Chapter 8 covers the Elizabethan era, focusing on key historical figures and events.
  • The lecture offers an edited version of what's provided in Canvas and the reader.

Background: Pre-Elizabethan Era

  • Henry VIII's Death: His son, Edward VI, becomes king at nine.
  • Exclusion in Edward's Will:
    • Excludes sisters Mary and Elizabeth.
    • Mary excluded due to her Catholicism.
    • Elizabeth declared illegitimate due to a controversy with her mother.
    • The court preferred Lady Jane Grey as a successor.

Mary I's Reign

  • Mary Restores Catholicism: Known as the first restoration.
  • Marriage Alliance: Marries Philip of Spain, aligning with Catholic Spain.
  • "Bloody Mary": Executes 300 Protestants, earning her nickname.
  • Subordination to Philip: England becomes subordinate to Spain due to marriage dynamics.

Elizabeth I's Ascension

  • Mary's Deathbed Bequest: Elizabeth succeeds the throne despite controversy.
  • Restoration of Protestantism: Known as the second restoration.
  • Elizabeth's Early Challenges:
    • Befriends explorers like Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake.
    • Tobacco becomes a significant commodity.
    • Faces conspiracy from Mary, Queen of Scots.

Elizabethan Era Developments

  • Cultural Advancements:
    • Shakespeare's plays reflect the period.
    • Forks and knives introduced in dining.
  • Economic Growth:
    • Tobacco and coffee become popular imports.
    • Wool and leather industries flourish.
    • The perfume industry emerges due to leather production.
  • Scientific Progress:
    • Copernicus and Galileo's contributions to astronomy and gravity.

Elizabeth's Reign Policies

  • Peace Treaties: Signs treaties with France and Spain.
  • Poor Laws: Provides relief for those unable to work; encourages employment.
  • Religious Freedom: Allows both Catholics and Protestants at court.

Elizabeth I's Personal Life

  • Never Married: Considered herself married to England.
  • Notable Lovers: Had affairs with Robert Dudley and Robert Devereux.
  • Portraits and Public Image:
    • Commissioned portraits to circulate her image.
    • Managed her appearance through art despite personal insecurities.

End of Elizabeth’s Reign

  • Economic Prosperity: Craftsmen and merchants thrive.
  • Legacy and Death: Dies at 69, remembered for her strong reign.

Setting the Stage for Chapter 9

  • France and Scotland Dynamics:
    • Ties with France: The role of the House of Valois and Mary, Queen of Scots.
    • Scotland’s Protestant shift affects Mary’s position.
  • Emergence of Bourbon Dynasty: Future focus on France's Bourbon kings in Chapter 9.

These notes cover the key points from the lecture on the Elizabethan era, detailing significant events, figures, and socio-political dynamics of the time. For a deeper understanding, refer to the Canvas resources and case studies mentioned in the lecture.

Full transcript