Shakespeare Quote: yet to be found
Everyday Use of Technology
The Elizabethan era was an age in which technology advanced, but was not too complicated and not available to everyone. For example the only means of transportation was by horse carriage and the only means of communication was by letters and messengers and even this rudimentary transportation and communication was not affordable by some of the peasants and farmers. (SOURCE?) There was no email, facebook or even cars. Everyday items and necessities were traded for and imported or made by merchants and craftsmen by themselves with the help of family and sometimes friends. There was no factories or companies to mass-produced products and so many items were expensive and only affordable by nobles. Even though the technology was rudimentary, there have been some amazing feats of accomplishment in this time. As we can see from the intricate suit of armor the technology to heat and bend metal was mastered by craftsman, such as blacksmiths. As we can see from the sweet bag, the technology to create items out of silk and have the knowledge of how to use that technology to manipulate the silk into allowing one to have such elaborate designs was very present.
The Elizabethan era was an age in which technology advanced, but was not too complicated and not available to everyone. For example the only means of transportation was by horse carriage and the only means of communication was by letters and messengers and even this rudimentary transportation and communication was not affordable by some of the peasants and farmers. (SOURCE?) There was no email, facebook or even cars. Everyday items and necessities were traded for and imported or made by merchants and craftsmen by themselves with the help of family and sometimes friends. There was no factories or companies to mass-produced products and so many items were expensive and only affordable by nobles. Even though the technology was rudimentary, there have been some amazing feats of accomplishment in this time. As we can see from the intricate suit of armor the technology to heat and bend metal was mastered by craftsman, such as blacksmiths. As we can see from the sweet bag, the technology to create items out of silk and have the knowledge of how to use that technology to manipulate the silk into allowing one to have such elaborate designs was very present.
Armor of George Clifford, Third Earl of Cumberland
This photo shows the armor of a man named George Clifford who was said to be the Queen's champion and made "Knight of the Garter" for his heroic deeds in the capture of the Spanish fort. It was found in the Royal Workshop of the Queen in current day Greenwich, England where it was also probably created in the estimated time slot of 1580-1585. This armor was a symbol of high status and was created by the Queen to immortalize Clifford's achievements and, as can be seen today, it has withstood the test of time and done just that. The reason it is significant to learning about technology is because, by analyzing the level of detail and use of intricate designs, we can tell a lot about how advanced the technology used to create such a piece was at that time. For example, the material this armor was made of had to be extremely durable, yet also light so movement would be possible and so cutting and transporting the material shows that the craftsmen had tools advanced enough to cut that kind of material and carry it to where it could be cut. Also the accuracy of the designs shows that craftsmen had the tools and knowledge to manipulate paint and metal to get such an intricate design so cleanly on to the armor. From this armor we can also tell the knights used swords that could be easily held by the armor and horses as the armor. (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, n.d. Web ("Made in the Royal Workshops: Armor of George Clifford, Third Earl of Cumberland [English (Greenwich)] (32.130.6)")) |
Upper Class Noblemen Purse
This is a late 16th century purse made of silk. Such an item was a status symbol worn only by the rich female nobles. This particular purse is called a "sweet bag" because it is used to carry scented herbs or essences to cover the unpleasant odors of the street. It was found in the house of a, thought to have been, nobleman next to the queen's castle in current day Greenwich, England. This bag is significant to learning about the technology used by an everyday noble or common man. Since factories had not been invented yet, each bag was hand-sown, or almost completely man-made. It probably took a craftsman and his family, as a family usually worked together, many hours to make such a bag. After producing the bag the craftsman might trade it with a knight heading back home to the Queen for gold, food, or textiles. (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, n.d. Web(Purse [English] (1986.300.1)) ) |
Works Cited
"A Muscleman from De Humani Corporis Fabrica." Medical and Historical Library. Yale University, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2013. <http://www.med.yale.edu/library/historical/about/founders/cushing.html>
"Galileo." World History: The Modern Era. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. ABC-CLIO eBook Collection. Web. 1 Apr. 2013. <http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/317176?terms=Galileo+Galilei>.
Galileo’s Telescope. Universe Today, n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. <http://www.universetoday.com/15763/galileos-telescope/>.
"Heavenly Revolutions." San Diego State University. San Diego State university, 2011. Web. 31 Mar. 2013. <http://library.sdsu.edu/scua/new-notable/heavenly-revolutions>.
"Made in the Royal Workshops: Armor of George Clifford, Third Earl of Cumberland [English (Greenwich)] (32.130.6)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/32.130.6 (October 2006)
On the Workings of the Human Body (de Humani corporis fabrica) by Andreae
Vesalii. Youtube. Emory University, n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2013.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5LGCCjZcCo>.
"Purse [English] (1986.300.1)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1986.300.1 (October 2006)
Vesalius, Andreas. De Humani Corporis Fabrica. Trans. William Frank Richardson. N.p., 1543. Print.
"A Muscleman from De Humani Corporis Fabrica." Medical and Historical Library. Yale University, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2013. <http://www.med.yale.edu/library/historical/about/founders/cushing.html>
"Galileo." World History: The Modern Era. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. ABC-CLIO eBook Collection. Web. 1 Apr. 2013. <http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/317176?terms=Galileo+Galilei>.
Galileo’s Telescope. Universe Today, n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. <http://www.universetoday.com/15763/galileos-telescope/>.
"Heavenly Revolutions." San Diego State University. San Diego State university, 2011. Web. 31 Mar. 2013. <http://library.sdsu.edu/scua/new-notable/heavenly-revolutions>.
"Made in the Royal Workshops: Armor of George Clifford, Third Earl of Cumberland [English (Greenwich)] (32.130.6)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/32.130.6 (October 2006)
On the Workings of the Human Body (de Humani corporis fabrica) by Andreae
Vesalii. Youtube. Emory University, n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2013.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5LGCCjZcCo>.
"Purse [English] (1986.300.1)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1986.300.1 (October 2006)
Vesalius, Andreas. De Humani Corporis Fabrica. Trans. William Frank Richardson. N.p., 1543. Print.