The Elizabethan Era

By definition, a social screen is a group of people with a related social standing. There are a lot distinct differences mingled with the classes, denoted by characteristics such(prenominal) as ones wealth, education, career, and health. These principles applied for the Elizabethan Era as well. Elizabeth herself was a member of the pep pill class, bit other fair successful people belonged to the middle class. Peasants were the lowest ranked class, usually because they were un better off(predicate) enough to either contract a disease that disabled them from work, or they were farmers that were struck with poverty when a harvesting season went bad.The upper class consisted mainly of nobility and wealthy landowners. Those in this class generally handled governmental affairs. They too had their children brought up with an education in music, math, and history. It wasnt rare for many of them to be literate in multiple foreign languages, as well as their own, such as Latin, English , French, and Spanish. Also, the men usually received a better education than the women. The men of nobility were taught extra skills such as horse riding, hunting, shooting, and hawking as well.Because of this classs social statute and wealth, they were easily able to treat themselves to the best of the food available during their time, especially substancey foods. But because of the large consumption of meat with few vegetables, many eventually suffered from diseases such as scurvy, which is weakness of the bone. The dinnerware consisted of wooden plates, like those of the lower classes, but these were accompanied by other delicacies of the Elizabethan period, such as chairs, forks, and glasses. The favorite drink of all the classes was beer, although the upper class favored wine imported from French vineyards.One custom between the people of this class and the peasants was known as the giving of alms to the poor. This was were a wealthy person would contribute money and sometime s provide supplementary shelter to a less fortunate person. Although the upper class was a minority in Elizabethan times as it is now, it kept the thriving European kingdom alive. The second class of the Elizabethan Period was the middle class. This class usually consisted of merchants and some landowners, although the number of peasants who rose and fell between this class and the lower class varied depending on the health of the seasonal harvest.Those in this class lead a fairly peaceful, easygoing life, other than common household chores and visits to the local market. If possible, they would hire a retainer to keep up with some of the household chores, such as the tedious task of clothes washing. They displace their children to a formal school if they could afford it. The parents were so intent for their children to learn the material that they encouraged teachers to beat them if they made mistakes or became lazy.The middle class often could not afford some of the things taken for give by the upper class, such as chairs instead of stools, forks, glasses, and a large selection of meats. The middle class drove the economy of Britain through its trades with other European countries. The peasants made up the lower class. These people were either ill, lazy, became laborers, or were just turned a bad hand during the harvest season. The laborers and servants served long hours each twenty-four hour period handling the least favorable jobs, such as field work and laundry. During bad seasons, as many as 25% could not afford food, and often the most they ever ate was bread.In many cases they turned to thievery, otherwise they would starve. Some were lucky enough to receive alms from the wealthy, but many didnt, because of their great number. The upper class pitied the peasants that were ill or that couldnt find work, so they created a system to care for them. If there were able men that were just lazy and quite an beg on the streets, a Parish, or the person in ch arge of the system locally, would send them to a larger city were they would be whipped and then sent back and assigned a job. If a man was ill, then they would often try to take him in and give him enough food to survive on.Widows and their families were also treated in the same manner. In the end, when harvest was well, every class benefited, and it created especially good seasons for the poor, otherwise it was the peasants who suffered most. The classes of the Elizabethan Period established a orderliness which became a model for many present-day cultures. Though not perfect, it still exists today, even in America to some degree. The upper class was the wealthiest and had the most power, while the middle class was mostly involved in trade, and the lower class made up the remainder who were often ill or widowed.