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The Darker Side of Elizabeth I’s Reign: Was it Really a Golden Age?

Author
Claire Ridgway
Published
Fri 28 Mar 2025
Episode Link
https://tudorhistory.podbean.com/e/the-darker-side-of-elizabeth-i-s-reign-was-it-really-a-golden-age/

Elizabeth I’s reign is often celebrated as a Golden Age—a time of exploration, cultural flourishing, and military victories. But was it truly golden for everyone?
 
Behind the glorious image of Gloriana, there was persecution, war, economic hardship, and brutal repression. In this video, we’ll uncover the darker side of Elizabeth I’s rule—the suffering, censorship, and struggles that are often left out of history books.
 
Key Topics Covered:
- Religious persecution
- Economic hardship
- War and suffering
- Censorship
- Women’s lives
- Corruption and political instability in Elizabeth’s later years
 
Elizabeth I is often remembered as one of England’s greatest monarchs—but history is rarely that simple. For many of her subjects, life was not golden—it was a struggle for survival.
 
What do you think? Did Elizabeth I’s reign deserve its Golden Age reputation, or have the struggles of ordinary people been glossed over? Enjoyed this deep dive into Tudor history?
 
Thanks for listening, and catch you in the next podcast!
 
#ElizabethI #TudorHistory #GoldenAge #Tudors #History #BritishHistory #RoyalHistory #TudorMonarchy #Witchcraft #Censorship #SpanishArmada #IrishHistory #16thCentury #HistoricalTruth #HistoryLover #HiddenHistory

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