The Elizabethan Age reflects Queen Elizabeth I's rule when England saw trade expansion, arts' flourish, and a religious shift towards Protestantism. The defeat of the Spanish Armada solidified England's naval power. The period also bore the beginning of English colonization influenced by the Puritan movement.
Elizabethan Age Overview
The Elizabethan Age is a period in English history marked by the reign of Queen Elizabeth I from 1558 to 1603. It is often referred to as England's "golden age," described by the expansion of trade, exploration, and the flourishing of arts, exemplified by literary figures like Shakespeare and Marlowe. Elizabeth's succession after her half-sister Mary I ended the brutal Catholic rule and she re-established England as a Protestant nation.
The Elizabethan Settlement marked a compromise between Protestantism and Catholicism, where the Church of England retained some Catholic traditions while adopting Protestant principles. This period also saw the rise of the Puritans, aiming for further reformation of the church, and preluded the Protestant-based colonization of the New World.
Elizabeth's maritime policies also intensified conflict with Catholic Spain, leading to the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, a decisive victory that showcased England's naval power and fostered national pride. Her reign provided a certain stability to England which, despite internal religious tensions, laid a foundation for future political and economic developments, influencing the balance of power in the Atlantic World.