17C - Culture in the Seventeenth Century Lesson

The Renaissance continued into the early 17th Century and left England with an openness and new way of thinking about culture, religion, and life. King James of Scotland replaced Queen Elizabeth, who died unmarried and childless. King James I of England was a Protestant, but several individuals in England were Puritans who wanted to "purify" the Church of England from Catholic elements. King James I did not necessarily agree with the purification of the church, and further tension mounted because King James I believed in the Divine Right of Kings, which means he felt chosen by God to rule, so he did not believe Parliament should have a say in Kingdom matters. Nonetheless, he instructed the translation of the Bible, which society considers a towering achievement in English literature as both beautiful and scholarly. With complete access to the stories in the Bible, writers then had inspiration for other stories and poetry in order to teach lessons and provide all people with access to Biblical knowledge.

When King James I died, King Charles, who also believed in the Divine Right of Kings, took the throne. King Charles I and Parliament did not agree on many matters—especially religion. Religion was a part of life, and the law dictated that every person should belong to the Church of England. With continue disagreements, the first English Civil War was inevitable between the supporters of the Parliament and the supporters of King Charles I, known as the Royalists or Cavaliers. The Second English Civil War led to fighting between supporters of King Charles II and supporters of the Rump Parliament. The English Civil War ending in 1651 led to the execution of Charles I and the exile of Charles II. The Commonwealth of England replaced the monarchy, and the Protectorate (under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell), replaced the Commonwealth of England in 1653. Then, the Protectorate returned in 1658 under Richard Cromwell followed shortly after the second period of Commonwealth of England in 1659.

The law requiring worship in the Church of England ended, and British monarchs could not rule without Parliament's consent. William III ruled until 1694, when his wife and first cousin, Mary II joined him on the throne. Download the handout to read more about the tension in the Seventeenth Century. Links to an external site.

Now, let's learn more about the culture, language, and time periods of the seventeenth century.

Literature, Language, Cultural Presentation

Key Terms Review