Final answer:
The "Elizabethan Era" refers to the latter half of the sixteenth century in England, coinciding with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I from 1558 to 1603, a time of cultural and political significance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Elizabethan Era
The latter half of the sixteenth century is known in England as the "Elizabethan Era." This historical period is named after Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned from 1558 to 1603. It was an age marked by English exploration, the flourishing of English literature, and the triumphs of the stage, featuring playwrights like William Shakespeare. The Elizabethan Era followed the Medieval period and preceded the seventeenth century.
Important figures during the English Renaissance in addition to Queen Elizabeth include Mary (Sydney) Herbert, Aemilia Lanyer, Mary Wroth, Katherine Philips, and Margaret Cavendish. This era coincides with the Early Modern English period, which saw the writing of Geoffrey Chaucer give way to new forms of literature and language.
While the Elizabethan Era was a time of cultural flourishing, it was also an era of political and social change. England was becoming a national power, navigating the complexities of religious reformation and the beginnings of colonial expansion.