The Time in which Shakespeare Lived

Shakespeare's Time

During the time in which William Shakespeare lived, Queen Elizabeth I was in reign. She was a huge fan of Shakespeares', going to a lot of his plays. During that time, England became the leading naval and commercial power of the Western world.

Also, during Queen Elizabeth 1's reign, England defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588. Because of trade, might, and art, England established great excellence.

Elizabethan England; October 19, 2008; http://www.bardweb.net/england.html

Shakespeare becomes wealthy

Money, Money, & More Money

Shakespeare became incredibly wealthy. He had a found sponsor named Henry Wriothsley. His playwrights were amazing, and people wanted to see them. He also set up a theater company with Henry Carey, Lord Chamberlain. Since he acted and wrote some of the plays, the theater became the most popular theater of that time.

Since he became extremely wealthy, he was able to retire and return back to his home in Stratford in 1610. Most of his fame and wealth came from his hard work as a director, writer, actor, and stockholder in "The King's Men."

William Shakespeare; October 19, 2008; http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/ShakespeareBiog.html

The Lord Chamberlain's Men; October 19, 2008; http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/stage/chamberlainsmen.html

Everything Shakespeare-History; October 19, 2008; http://www.field-of-themes.com/shakespeare/shakehis.html

Shakespeare's accomplishments

Shakespeare the Successor

Shakespeare's life was full of accomplishments. During his time, he was the most popular playwrighter out there. To this day his playwrights are considered to be the best ever written. His most-known playwright was the romantic-tragedy, Romeo & Juliet.

Most of his plays were first presented in the Globe Theater, in which he owned. The Globe Theater was built in 1599, and sadly burned down in 1613. The Globe Theater had tier galleries where the wealthy people sat. Near the state, was the "groundlings" which was where the less wealthier people stood. If a performance was poor, they would throw tomatoes at the actors.

William Shakespeare; October 19, 2008; http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/ShakespeareBiog.html

The Globe Theater; October 19, 2008; http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/Globe.html

William Shakespeare as a Married Man

Love, Marriage, & Babies in Baby Carriages

Shakespeare's marriage certificate was issued on November 27, 1582. He married Anne Hathaway who was not only eight years his senior, but also pregnant.

7 months later, in May of 1583, they had their first born child named Susana. Two years later, in January of 1585, Anne and William Shakespeare had a set of twins, whom they named Hamnet and Judith. They named the twins after his close friends, Hamnet and Judith Sadler.

Anne and William's only son, Hamnet died at age 11, in 1596. Looks like the Shakespeare last name shortly came to an end at that time.

Shakespeare Biography; October 19, 2008; http://www.absoluteshakespeare.com/trivia/biography/shakespeare_biography.htm

William Shakespeare in his Younger Years

What was William Shakespeare really like in his prime years?

William Shakespeare was said to have been born on April 23, 1564. He grew up in the village of Stratford, in Warwickshire, England. There were only 1500 people, and 200 houses. His family was Anglican, which is a religion that is a mixture of Christianity, Catholicism, and Protestantism.

Some researchers said that when he was a child, his father took him to plays, which is where he got his inspiration. He as the third child of John and Mary Shakespeare. From oldest to youngest, it was Joan, Judith, William, Gilbert, Richard, & Edmund.

He grew up in a small village just north of London. Researchers say that he did not attend college. He was indeed, a natural poetic genius!

Shakespeare Biography;October 18, 2008;http://www.absoluteshakespeare.com/trivia/biography/shakespeare_biography.htm