Question

Why did the Elizabethans believe social class and status were important?

a) They believed that a strong class system was necessary for progress.
b) They believed in the great chain of being, which dictated social roles.
c) They believed in Aristotle's scale of nature, which ordered human society.
d) They believed in the Bible and took its rules and restrictions literally.

Answer 1

The Elizabethans believed social class and status were important due to their belief in the great chain of being, the belief in a strong class system for progress, and their literal interpretation of the Bible.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Elizabethans believed that social class and status were important for several reasons:

1. They believed in the great chain of being, which dictated social roles. This concept stated that everyone had a designated place in society, and disrupting that hierarchy would lead to chaos.
2. They believed that a strong class system was necessary for progress. The upper classes believed they were naturally better than the lower classes and that their leadership and guidance were essential for society's advancement.
3. They believed in the Bible and took its rules and restrictions literally. The Bible reinforced the idea of social hierarchy and the divine right of kings, which further emphasized the importance of social class and status.