Queen Elizabeth I's rise to the throne ushered in the English Renaissance. During her reign, the arts – including theater and literature – flourished, with William Shakespeare possibly being the most famous writer of this period. In addition, Sir Francis Drake became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe, and the English colonization of North America began. Additionally, under Elizabeth's leadership, neighboring countries of Spain and France experienced the effects of British power. The defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 marked the beginning of a new era for England's political and naval power. In 1599, England chartered the East India Company, and became a contender in international trade.
The Elizabethan era is a period often portrayed as the Golden Age of England. It was the era of the very first theatres in England and The Age of Exploration, which was dominated at first by the Portuguese and the Spanish. Queen Elizabeth I was the daughter of Henry VIII. Henry VIII's first wife was a Spanish Princess, he divorced her and caused a split with the Catholic Church. On top of religious tension between the Church of England and the rest of the Catholic Spain, England and Spain were rivals in the New World. It was an economic and political rivalry as well as a religious one. The Golden Age of Exploration also saw the rise of English explorers such as Sir Francis Drake, Sir John Hawkins and Sir Walter Raleigh. Numerous motives prompted the Age of Exploration, including scientific curiosity and money. Europeans were thrilled with the thought of spreading Christianity among the people with a crusading force, in addition to opportunities of acquiring wealth, fame, and power.
Mary, Queen of Scots, was Elizabeth I's cousin. She had been brought up as a strict Catholic, which did not put her on good terms with the Protestant Elizabeth. Due to several reasons (including the murder of her husband) Mary abdicated the throne of Scotland, making her year-old son James VI, King of Scotland. Mary fled to England hoping to take refuge with her cousin Elizabeth. At this stage of Elizabeth’s reign, she had formed a sense of religious stability among the people, of which, the majority were Protestants. Because Mary was a Catholic, she threatened the Protestants, and could draw attention from the Catholics in England, so she was perceived as a rival and a threat by Elizabeth, who had her imprisoned.
For 19 years, Mary remained in prison plotting to free herself, to assassinate Elizabeth, and to gain the crown with the help of an invading Spanish army. In 1586, Mary was brought to trial on charges of treason. She was found guilty, and three months later Elizabeth signed the death warrant. Mary was executed on February 8th, 1587. It is widely believed that Mary's execution was the final reason the King of Spain, Phillip II, needed to launch the Spanish Armada.
The Elizabethan era is a period often portrayed as the Golden Age of England. It was the era of the very first theatres in England and The Age of Exploration, which was dominated at first by the Portuguese and the Spanish. Queen Elizabeth I was the daughter of Henry VIII. Henry VIII's first wife was a Spanish Princess, he divorced her and caused a split with the Catholic Church. On top of religious tension between the Church of England and the rest of the Catholic Spain, England and Spain were rivals in the New World. It was an economic and political rivalry as well as a religious one. The Golden Age of Exploration also saw the rise of English explorers such as Sir Francis Drake, Sir John Hawkins and Sir Walter Raleigh. Numerous motives prompted the Age of Exploration, including scientific curiosity and money. Europeans were thrilled with the thought of spreading Christianity among the people with a crusading force, in addition to opportunities of acquiring wealth, fame, and power.
Mary, Queen of Scots, was Elizabeth I's cousin. She had been brought up as a strict Catholic, which did not put her on good terms with the Protestant Elizabeth. Due to several reasons (including the murder of her husband) Mary abdicated the throne of Scotland, making her year-old son James VI, King of Scotland. Mary fled to England hoping to take refuge with her cousin Elizabeth. At this stage of Elizabeth’s reign, she had formed a sense of religious stability among the people, of which, the majority were Protestants. Because Mary was a Catholic, she threatened the Protestants, and could draw attention from the Catholics in England, so she was perceived as a rival and a threat by Elizabeth, who had her imprisoned.
For 19 years, Mary remained in prison plotting to free herself, to assassinate Elizabeth, and to gain the crown with the help of an invading Spanish army. In 1586, Mary was brought to trial on charges of treason. She was found guilty, and three months later Elizabeth signed the death warrant. Mary was executed on February 8th, 1587. It is widely believed that Mary's execution was the final reason the King of Spain, Phillip II, needed to launch the Spanish Armada.