This assignment should give an overview of the most important events during the time of Elizabeth as the Queen of England - the Elizabethan Age. At first it must be said that it is only possible to give a survey of the most decisive aspects and facets of this long period which was of such detail that it cannot be captured in full detail in a rather short assignment. Thus, I will concentrate on the most significant chapters of Elizabeth’s life and her time. When working on the subject of the Elizabethan Age, it becomes obvious that the reign of Elizabeth I. is not clearly distinguishable from the years before. Thus, it is necessary to take a brief look on the family background in order to understand Elizabeth’s life, her attitude and position in life. Here it is also important to shed light on her childhood and her position at court as an illegitimate child of Henry VIII.. Although historians still argue about Elizabeth’s own attitude towards religion and religious beliefs, it is known that she was hated by the Catholics but fully and truly loved by the Protestants. In order to shed light on the religious conflicts of the 16thcentury, an analysis requires a detailed description of Elizabeth’s policy with regard to the conflict between Protestants and Catholics, but also her own religious belief and her motives for the establishment of the state church in England. As the policy concerning religious interests is closely linked to the home affairs of England during Elizabeth’s reign, this assignment will take a look on Elizabeth’s policy which helped England to rise again from the economical and political valley in which it was brought by her ancestors. In addition to that, England’s role in Europe between 1558 and 1603 should be emphasized and therefore I will also analyse Elizabeth’s foreign policy and its consequences for England’s position in Europe as well as the consequences for the European continent in general. Closely linked to this aspect is the difficult relationship between Elizabeth and Mary Stuart, the Queen of Scotland. Mary has always been considered as a threat or a rival for Elizabeth and it is therefore important to recognize why Elizabeth in the end succeeded. When portraying the Elizabethan Age, it is furthermore important to shed light on the cultural and artistic life in England, in particular in England’s capital London. [...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I. Introduction
- II. Main Part
- 2.1 England before Elizabeth's accession in 1558
- 2.2 Elizabeth's childhood
- 2.3 The Protestant Kingdom
- 2.4 Elizabeth and England's home affairs
- 2.5 Elizabeth's rival Mary Stuart
- 2.6 Foreign Policy
- 2.6.1 The Spanish Armada
- 2.6.2 Evaluation of Elizabeth's Foreign Policy
- 2.7 Arts and Literature of the Elizabethan Age
- 2.8 The last years of Elizabeth's reign
- 2.9 The myth of Elizabeth I.
- III. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This assignment provides a comprehensive overview of the most significant events during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, known as the Elizabethan Age. It focuses on the most crucial aspects and facets of this era, examining Elizabeth's life and reign in detail. The assignment also explores the complexities of the Elizabethan period, including its historical context and the impact of key figures, such as Mary Stuart, on Elizabeth's reign.
- The historical and political context of Elizabeth's reign.
- Elizabeth's life, her childhood, and her position at court.
- The impact of religious conflicts on the Elizabethan era.
- Elizabeth's foreign policy and its consequences for England and Europe.
- The cultural and artistic life of England during the Elizabethan Age.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The assignment begins by discussing the historical context of England before Elizabeth's accession in 1558, highlighting the reigns of Henry VIII and Mary I. It explores Henry's impact on the structure of the church in England and the religious divisions that characterized this period.
The assignment then delves into Elizabeth's childhood and her position at court as an illegitimate child of Henry VIII. It further explores the religious conflicts of the 16th century and analyzes Elizabeth's policy regarding the conflict between Protestants and Catholics, including her own religious beliefs.
Continuing the analysis, the assignment examines Elizabeth's home affairs, focusing on her policy that helped England to recover from its economic and political downturn. It also highlights the role of England in Europe during Elizabeth's reign, examining her foreign policy, its consequences for England's position in Europe, and its broader impact on the European continent.
The assignment then explores the difficult relationship between Elizabeth and Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, and analyzes why Elizabeth ultimately succeeded in asserting her dominance. Finally, it examines the cultural and artistic life of England, specifically in London, highlighting the importance of Elizabeth's reign in the development of cultural life and its influence on figures like William Shakespeare.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The assignment revolves around the key terms and concepts of the Elizabethan Age, focusing on the reign of Elizabeth I, religious conflicts, England's home affairs, foreign policy, the relationship with Mary Stuart, and the cultural and artistic development of England during her reign.
- Quote paper
- Alke Eilers (Author), 2002, England under Elizabeth I , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/56992
