Social Structure
- The Elizabethan Era was characterized by many different Social Classes.
- Nobility was the highest social class. These people were the lords and ladies of Elizabethan England. One could become a noble from either a grant from the reigning monarch of the time or by birth. Titles were passed from the father to the oldest son.
- Next were the Gentry. This class was composed of wealthy families that did not have to work for a living. Included in the Gentry class are gentlemen/gentlewomen, knights, clergy, squires, and other large landowners.
- The Yeomenary were the middle class of the Elizabethan Era. This class had to make a living, but lived comfortably. They were composed of smaller landowners, craftsmen, and tradesmen.
- The lowest class were The Poor. As their name suggests, the poor were unemployed and below the "poverty line". The government used donations from the wealthy to help the poor, much like we do today.
Food
Elizabethan food (pictured in the banner above) depended mostly on one's social structure. In general, being able to eat meat was a sign of wealth. Poorer and middle class families relied on their crops for food. The Elizabethan Era is well known for its improvement in agriculture. Fruit trees were grown, sugar was used, and foods from the New World expanded the variety of food available to people.
For drink, many people of the Elizabethan Era drank wine or ale (the poor drank ale, the wealthy drank both), because of its long shelf life and inability to spoil easily. They did not drink water because it was not very clean.
For drink, many people of the Elizabethan Era drank wine or ale (the poor drank ale, the wealthy drank both), because of its long shelf life and inability to spoil easily. They did not drink water because it was not very clean.