The Elizabethan Period Of The Renaissance

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A Golden Time: The Elizabethan Period of the Renaissance During the years 1558 to 1603, the age of the Renaissance had reached its peak. Many art forms bloomed and flourished, as did the trade and the economy. But this is mainly for England, the place from whence the Elizabethan period, the literary height of the Renaissance, had begun. The Elizabethan period began as the reign of the daughter of Henry VIII, Elizabeth I began as well. However this era wasn’t named because of Elizabeth I herself, although she had done many notable things while she ruled including pouring money into London’s arts scene, building the city’s first theatres, and sponsoring productions. Her patronization of the arts is of no question since the queen herself loved …show more content…

Despite the government having a rather equal relationship in terms of class since the commoners are involved, the Elizabethan society was patriarchal; men were superior to women because they were the weaker sex, physically and emotionally. Regardless of social class, women were not allowed to vote, not allowed to go to a university, not allowed to have professions such as being lawyers or doctors; only domestic service, not allowed to act in theatres, and most certainly not allowed to inherit any of her father’s titles, except for the crown of course, and if the woman is the only heir of her father. Aside from all these limitations, women are expected to be fully obedient to their husbands, meaning never to question them; only obedience, for disobedience would mean punishment, to be dependent on their male relatives especially if they were single, to bear children as much as possible to keep the lineage alive, to maintain the household and manage everything, and still be presentable in terms of appearance, especially the women of the high social class. But, compared to the women of other societies, Elizabethan women exercise far more freedom than any women in world history. Especially those of the noble class, women were allowed education (from tutors) in subjects other than housewifery. Subjects such as speaking different languages like Latin, Italian, Greek, and French, the Classics, Mathematics, other academic subjects, as well as music and dancing skills that were essential qualities of the women if the Elizabethan period. The life of Elizabethan women was certainly not easy, with arranged marriages, subservience to men, and childbirth and housewifery, but they are, compared to other women of any period of history, quite