Elizabethan Society: Rich and Poor

Elizabethan England was a society of stark contrasts. The wealthy lived in magnificent houses, wore elaborate clothes, and ate extravagant meals, while the poor struggled to survive. Understanding this social divide is essential for AQA GCSE History and for evaluating the challenges Elizabeth's government faced.

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The Social Hierarchy

Elizabethan society was rigidly hierarchical. Everyone had a defined place, and social mobility — while possible — was limited.