Merchant Of Venice Expert Group Research

Hello everyone!

Now i will be doing on the Merchant of Venice expert group research and collaboration. We will be doing on three topics, topics 2,3 and 4, due to the absence of certain group members.

Topic 2

Elizabeth l: Who was she?

She was a daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. She was queen of England and Ireland, from 1558 to 1603, was the longest reigning monarch in nearly two centuries and the first women to successfully occupy the English throne. This is greatly related to Merchant of Venice, since Queen Elizabeth's reign was noted for the English Renaissance, an outpouring drama and poetry led by famous and fantastic philosophers and poets, including William Shakespeare, that remains unsurpassed in English history. In a nutshell, she was a successful queen, and was capable of doing many great things, despite her gender.

What were England's international relations like during Elizabeth's reign?

England was initially at war with France and Scotland, and hence their relationships were very bad. However, after Queen Elizabeth took over, relationships grew friendly, and a military peace treaty was signed. Hence, England's international relations improved a little.

Also, she made peace with many barbaric states and Japan, through friendly diplomatic and trade relations. Therefore international relationships became better.

However, during Queen Elizabeth's reign, she went on loggerheads with a few countries, particularly Spain. When she took over, relationships with Spain grew worse, in fight for bigger territories. Hence, when Queen Elizabeth gave the order for her men to execute the plan of sending an army to safeguard Netherlands, otherwise known as Holland. The Spaniards reacted dramatically, by sending their mighty and powerful Spanish Navy, known as Spanish Armada to British, but suffered a defeat. However, relationships were worsened tremendously.

Furthermore, she banned Catholic services, and popes were allowed to marry etc. Italy, being a country with 97.2% of them being Catholics, of course, was displeased, and hence trade relations were aggravated, and international relationships are hence worse as well.

 (TO BE EDITTED TOMORROW!)