Introducing 

Prezi AI.

Your new presentation assistant.

Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.

Loading…
Transcript

Elizabethan Astrology, Astronomy and Social classes

Social Classes

The Four main Social Classes

Elizabethan period

A persons class was determined by their lifestyle, how they lived, what they dressed like, where they lived and the kinds of jobs people could get.

The Four main social classes are:

  • Nobility
  • Gentry
  • Yeomanry
  • Poor

Noblemen

Gentry

The gentry were the people who were knights, squires, gentlemen and gentlewoman whose fortunes were great that they did not have to work with their hands for a living. This class was similar to the middle class at the time. Most of the important people of this time came from this class. Knights were highly respected by almost all classes of the Elizabethan time.

Noblemen were very rich and powerful. The number of Nobleman were kept small as they were viewed as a threat to the rulers. You could become a Noble by birthright or by grant from the king or queen if they thought you were worthy.

Definition of Astrology

The Elizabethan era was the age of the renaissance with new thinking and Ideas emerging into the world

Astrology is the study of the positions and aspects of celestial bodies in the belief that they have and influence on the earth and human affairs

The Interest in the Renaissance and Elizabethan Astrology

Yeomanry

Poor

The renaissance saw the emergence of the curiosity of anything that was speculated to be mystical. Fate was said to be linked with the stars

The Yeomanry were the ‘middle class’ of the Elizabethan age, coming close and just under knights, they could live comfortably with the little savings they built up. While the gentry spent their wealth building large homes, the yeomen used their wealth on a very simple basis, affording enough food and water to just survive.

Sitting at the bottom of all social classes from the Elizabethan time, the Poor, who for some reason, even with all the work and value they were to all the people, found themselves without many, food, or shelter. Due to the large increase in the number of people, the Poor Laws were passed to assist them. Any Poor person found guilty of being able to do an honest day’s work could be sentenced to death.

The Influence of Astronomy on William Shakespeare

The subject of astrology fascinated many people in the Elizabethan era. Shakespeare was one of these people. Shakespeare made over 100 references to astrology and it is often an important aspect of story plots.

Learn more about creating dynamic, engaging presentations with Prezi