Social and political characteristics of the Elizabethan age.

1. S O C I A L A N D P O L I T I C A L C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S
O F T H E A G E P R E P A R E D B Y D I P T I V A G H E L A
Elizabethan Age

2. Preface
 This is one of the golden age in the history of England.
The period of this age is during 1550 to 1620. According
to Milton, “a noble and puissant nation, rousing herself,
like a strong man after sleep and shaking her invincible
locks.” Under her administration the English national life
progressed by gigantic leaps rather than by slow historical
process, and English literature reached the very highest
point of its development.
Thus, it is very progressive period in the
history which produced abundance literature. Now, let’s
know the characteristics.

3. Social and Political characteristics
 1) The Renaissance
 2) Humanism
 3) The Reformation
 4) Nationalism
 5) Settlement
 6) An age of social contentment
 7) An age of material advancement
 8) New Discoveries
 9) An age of Adventure
 10) Printing and Education

4. The Renaissance
 Thee renaissance denotes, in its broadest sense, the gradual
enlightenment of the human mind after the darkness of the
middle ages. According to Taine, the essence of the whole
movement is, that man, so long blinded, “had suddenly
opened his eyes and seen”. Renaissance had its birth in Italy
and spread in Germany, France and England. It produces
geniuses like Shakespeare, Marlow, Spenser and Sidney.
 The renaissance coloured the thoughts and ideas of the
people of the Elizabethan age. Under the influence of it the
Elizabethan people made effort to free themselves from the
rigid institutions of the middle ages, feudalism and the
churches and to assert their right to live, to think and to
express themselves.

5.  Man started to think for themselves and to question
accepted beliefs.
 During this time there was the revival of classical
learning, the study of the classical authors became a
passion with the people of this age.
 The intelligent young men of the day turned to Greek
philosophy and poetry for nourishment.

6. Humanism
 The rediscovery and reinterpretation of antiquity gave
birth to a new culture- that of humanism. The humanists
led by Erasmus began to take interest in life and in
mankind. In England also the humanistic culture had its
influence. Under the new creed life no longer seemed a
mere penance to be endured by good Christians in
preparation for heaven. People began to take interest in
this life and strove hard to make it larger and happier.
 Thus, humanism is the idea which focus on mankind
rather than any other like religion, class, etc.

7. The Reformation
 The reformation which
began in the time of Henry
VIII reached its culmination
during the Elizabethan age.
There was a tutelage of
Roman authority. Spenser
presented the best trends
of Reformation in the
‘Faerie Queen’. Thus the
reformation means the re-
formation of the society
and they done the changes
in society as per need.

8. Nationalism
 The defeat of the Spanish
Armada brought about the
revival of nationalistic and
patriotic feelings among
the people of this time. At
the defeat of the Spanish
Armada the national spirit
rose to delirious heights of
self-confidence . This
upsurge of nationalistic
feelings which had first
began with Chaucer which
blossoming in this era.

9. Settlement
 The English nation was
attaining on a state of
stability. The union of the
Crowns finally set at rest that
ancient quarrel between
Scotland and England. In
religion there was the spirit of
toleration which was largely
due to the Queen’s influence.
The minds of the people
freed from religious fears and
persecution turned with great
enthusiasm to creative
activities. This settlement was
all for the good of literature.
Politics
Religion
Settlement

10. An age of social contentment
 It was an age of comparative
social contentment in strong
contrast with the days of
Langland. The rapid increase
of manufacture been idle
and discontented. The sense
of social security and
contentment gave a spur to
literary activity.

11. An Age of Material Advancement
 In material surroundings and
comforts too there were
great changes and
improvements taking place.
Commerce was making very
considerable progress. Fresh
means of wealth were being
initially or fully developed.
The dissolution of the
monasteries had helped to
produce an economic
revolution which has not yet
been sufficiently recognized.
The contrast between the
England of Henry VIII and that
of his daughter in respect of
trade, manufactures and
agriculture is immense.

12. New discoveries
 The new discoveries in the field
of astronomy by Copernicus
against the old theories of
Ptolemy, and the discovery of
America by Columbus and Cabot
brought about a widening of
horizon. ‘New knowledge began
to pour in from the East and new
worlds were opening in the
West. The great voyagers, whose
exploits were chronicled in the
immortal pages of Hakluyt
brought home both material
intellectual treasures from
beyond the ‘still vexed
Bermothes’ as Shakespeare
called them such explorations
had important effect on the
production of literature.

13. An Age of Adventure
 The imagination of the
people was stirred. The new
rich lands opened to the
sight and imagination
created new forms to people
the new lands. “So dreams
and deeds increase side by
side and the dream is ever
greater than the deed. That
is the meaning of
Elizabethan literature.”

14. Printing and Education
 Printing, which Caxton had
introduced in the previous
age, had now its full effect.
The new learning was
popularized by the printing
press. Previously education
had been in the hands of the
church, but with the
Renaissance began secular
education. A reading public
was formed during the
Elizabethan age and the new
literature was welcomed by
the people.

15. References
 History of English literature volume I by J.N
Mundra, S.C. Mundra.
 Images from internet