The Jacobean era, from 1603-1625, was a time of literary and philosophical advances, imperialism, and dramatic changes in England. King James I presided over an unstable period, including the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Literature and drama flourished, including works by Shakespeare, Jon Donne, and Ben Jonson. The Authorized King James Bible was also created during this time. The founding of the first British colonies in America opened commercial and financial potential, but the era ended with England in a severe economic depression.
The Jacobean era refers to the time period that James I ruled England and Scotland, from 1603-1625. The word “Jacobean” comes from the Hebrew name Jacob, from which the name James derives. Following the illustrious reign of Queen Elizabeth I, this 22-year period is notable for its advances in literature and philosophy, and its dramatic changes in the nation due to imperialism. James I presided over an unstable period in British history, and the country emerged from his reign as a changed nation.
James I was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and had become King of Scotland at the age of one, following his father’s death and his mother’s abdication. As the next of kin of Queen Elizabeth I of England, James succeeded to the throne of England upon her death. The young king was well educated and wrote several books on the law and duties of kings, but he was not universally loved and survived several attempts on his life.
In 1605, a group of Catholics attempted to destroy the majority of the English government and monarchy by blowing up the Houses of Parliament in the opening session on 5 November. One conspirator betrayed his comrades and sent out a warning shortly before the attack, leading to the conspirators’ capture and execution. At the time, this large-scale attempt at domestic terrorism was a terrifying and unusual concept and a sign of the nation’s extreme civil unrest.
In modern England, townspeople celebrate the discovery of the plot with bonfires and fireworks. The anniversary of the bombing is called “Guy Fawkes Day” in honor of one of the major conspirators.
Literature and drama were of great importance in the Jacobean era. William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth and The Tempest all around this time. Inigo Jones, who created elaborate sets and costumes for court theater productions, is considered the father of modern stagecraft. In poetry, Jon Donne and Ben Jonson are credited with creating some of the most famous works in the history of the genre. Frances Bacon, the great English philosopher, wrote her groundbreaking essays during this period.
King James contributed one of the most significant works to the literature of the time. In 1604, the king ordered an English translation of the Bible that conformed to Protestant ideals and theology. The result, The Authorized King James Bible, is still in use today as the primary Bible of many Protestant churches.
Perhaps the most significant event of the era was the founding of the first British colonies in America. The cities of Jamestown, Virginia, and Plymouth, Massachusetts opened the doors to enormous commercial and financial potential in the New World. Due to the abundance of tobacco crops in North America, this period also saw a sudden and enormous increase in the use of tobacco in England. In 1612, England had over 7,000 tobacconists and smokers.
After the grand and ambitious tone of Elizabeth’s reign, the Jacobean era was a time of great hardship and change for England. The constant skirmishes of the Elizabethan era left the treasury drained and the religious strife that had plagued the Tudor dynasty did not abate under the fervent Protestant James. Despite new markets in North America, the era ended with England in a severe economic depression. Some experts believe that James’ rule and explosive changes in culture contributed greatly to Oliver Cromwell’s overthrow of the monarchy and the English Civil War that shortly followed.
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