Final answer:
Life in Elizabethan England was culturally vibrant but also marked by social and religious challenges. Theatre was a central part of culture, with buildings like the Globe providing a unique experience for audiences. Meanwhile, serfs faced a harsh reality of disease and poverty, and religious tensions persisted, particularly between moderate Anglicans and Puritans.
Step-by-step explanation:
Elizabethan England was a period of significant cultural, social, and religious change. The era is perhaps best known for its rich contribution to the arts, particularly theatre. Elizabethan theatres, commonly constructed from wood and straw, were susceptible to fires due to the use of open flames for illumination.
Despite this danger, the theatre thrived as a central form of entertainment and social gathering. The iconic polyhedric buildings featured an open courtyard, which caused theatres, including Shakespeare's Globe, to have a distinctive thrust stage design. Audiences could either stand in the yard or sit in balconies, the latter being a pricier option.
Outside of theatre, Elizabethan life was marked by strict social hierarchy. The everyday lives of serfs were harsh; disease and a lack of sanitation often led to early death. Women frequently died in childbirth and many children didn't live beyond the age of five.
Most people lived in modest, cramped accommodations and had limited personal belongings. Apparel usually comprised a woolen jacket or tunic with linen undergarments, and bathing was infrequent.
Religion was a contentious issue, as the Elizabethan Settlement failed to appease the Puritans, who sought further reformation of the Anglican church. Political intrigue and religious disputes, such as the conflict between Elizabeth I and her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, played out against this backdrop of social and cultural richness, making the era one of complexity and contradiction.