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Transcript

The Monarchs were at the top of the social hierarchy. They had full control over fiefs, economic and political decisions. This class included kings, queens, princes and princesses.

  • Social class determined not only social status but also:
  • Where they could live
  • Where they could work
  • What sort of political rights they had
  • What they could wear
  • These rules weren't taken lightly, violating the expectations or restrictions of one's class could be met with violent punishment

The Importance of Social class on People:

The Social Class Pyramid

The next in line was the nobility

  • They held the most power after the monarchs
  • There were the hereditary nobility, which were those who were born into a noble family
  • Non-hereditary nobility, who rose to power without the help of blood relations

Below the Nobles were the Gentry. They were able to stand their ground just fine, wealthy enough to not work with their hands. They were either lords of a manor (in which they owned the land or were gentlemen freeholders (tenants of other lords). They lived off their tenants.

A tenant is a person who occupies land or property rented from a landlord.

The merchants were prosperous in the Elizabethan Era. They made their wealth through sales of wool, exotic goods, and other items of commerce.

The equivalent to middle class in the Elizabethan era was the Yeomanry

  • They were able to make enough money to meet ends
  • However, one quick mistake and they could lose everything
  • Most yeomans were farmers, traders or even craftsmen
  • While they did have the option to work higher into more privileged classes, most were content to simply improving their qualities in life and were glad that they weren’t any classes lower

Exceptions to Class and Marriage

  • While one usually never changed classes, it was possible:
  • The monarch could appoint you into nobility
  • A Labourer could become part of the Gentry by gathering enough wealth and being accepted
  • Banishment by the ruling Monarch or being disowned by their family
  • People could marry out of their class:
  • A noble might marry a famous and rich merchant because their status is almost equal
  • A parent might force their child to marry someone of a different class for financial security

The lowest class were the peasants

  • Had little money, lived in poverty, sickness and not cared for by the churches
  • The peasants made goods which they exchanged for shelter and food
  • They usually did not have enough money to support a family
  • During the Elizabethan Era, one of the first government sponsored welfare programs were implemented to attempt to aid them

The Elizabethan Era

  • 1558-1603
  • Known as one of England's Golden Ages
  • Desiring English society to reflect the order and stability of the Crown, Elizabeth imposed a strict social class system

Fair or Not?

Activity Time!!

Quiz!

Answer a question right and you'll get a small prize!

The Class System of Elizabethan England

  • Social classes were expression of status in society thought to be established by god himself
  • 6 Social classes
  • People in a usually stayed in their social class for the rest of their life and were born into it
  • Married people of the same class

Thank you for listening!!!

The Class System of the Elizabethan Era

References:

1. https://www.bl.uk/shakespeare/articles/the-social-structure-in-elizabethan-england

2. http://study.com/academy/lesson/elizabethan-era-class-system.html#transcriptHeader

3.https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenant

4.https://smckinneyromeoandjuliet.weebly.com/social-classes-in-the-elizabethan-era.html

In this prezi, you will learn:

  • What the social classes of the Elizabethan Era were
  • How a person's social class is determined
  • How one could change their social rank
  • The purpose of social classes in the Elizabethan Era

Emily Chu, Rhea Sankar

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