CountryLife4

__Elizabethan Urban Life__ Wynn Culver

People who lived in Urban Elizabethan England were very self-sufficient. Meaning that people produced food, shelter and living essentials locally and did everything for themselves. There was no reason for urbanites to travel more than a half day’s walk from their towns and houses except if they decided to visit a different market in a neighboring town. Considering most towns where people lived were small, money was in short supply. Residents frequently used bartering, exchanging goods and services with one another, as the method to secure most of what they needed for day to day living and survival for them and their families.

These small towns were populated by only a few hundred people. Therefore, there was a very close community atmosphere where everybody knew each other. Noble families owned and kept land for generations at a time and land would be handed down, within the family, generation after generation. People worked closely with their families and certain skills were taught from, father to son. Urban life changed from season to season with the busiest time during harvest and hay making periods.

Work was very important in Urban Elizabethan England. A typical day would begin at 3 am and laborers would be found working in the fields by 5 am. At 10 am preparations would be made for the mid day meal, everyone would wash before each meal and say grace. People allowed themselves leisure time after they finished working, which was after sunset. At this time, people would talk and play games together. Examples of the games and leisure activities they participated in included, archery, bowling, dice, and hammer throwing. Some people attended the theatre to watch plays and dancing was also a popular activity, as was literature. On Sunday there was also time designated for leisure and men would meet at church to talk and play games after church services, women met and worked together sewing things.