Social and Economic Time Druing Shakespeares Era

William Shakespeare lived in England during to great periods in history, the Renaissance and the Elizabethan era. The Renaissance was an influential cultural movement which brought about a period of scientific revolution and artistic transformation that spread all through out Europe, it marked the transitional period between the end of the Middle Ages and the start of the Modern Age (â€Å"Renaissance†). The Elizabethan Era was the period associated with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and is often considered to be a golden age in English history. It was during the end of the English Renaissance. During the end of the Middle Ages the old feudal system had crumbled due to the devastating effects of the black plague, society changed dramatically†¦show more content†¦The upper classes differed considerably from the diet of the Lower Classes. The number of courses and variety of Elizabethan foods consumed by the Upper Classes included ingredients which were too expensive f or the majority of English people. The Upper classes had a taste for spicy and also sweet foods and could afford the expensive spices and sugar required to create these exotic recipes. The Elizabethan era time was a very fashion-conscious age, for both men and women a like. They strived to have their dress ornate, stylish, impressive, and attracting. However, this is not to say that the common workers were not influenced in their wardrobe by the high fashion standards of living. Queen Elizabeth, along with many others, believed that on should be able to determine a person’s rank by their clothing. More specifically by the fabrics and their colors, the sturdiness of an outfit and accessories of an outfit. During Shakespeare’s lifetime, a period of particularly cold weather hit England, known as the Little Ice Age. It was this weather that brought the need for clothing that to the modern day person would perceive as too hot and constraining (Signman 94). The basics outf it, from inner garments to the outer, working women would consist of: smocks, kirtle, bodice, and petticoats. The smock would be a shirt that would be knee or floor length. The kirtle was a fitted garment was very simple but would