Julius Caesar: Shakespeare’s Play That Made the Roman General Famous for Ages

The renaissance age was the period, when the revival could be witnessed in a number of aspects of society. The renaissance costumes, paintings, sculptures, literature and a lot of other aspects have gained widespread popularity in the recent times.

Like many other facets, the literature of the renaissance age also has a great significance in the present scenario. William Shakespeare is one of the great names of the renaissance-age authors in this regard. He played a major role in enriching the renaissance literature. The plays written by him are acted as well as read by a large number of individuals even in the recent times.

William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
Shakespeare wrote on a number of themes like humor, tragedy, history and more. His play “Julius Caesar”, has gained huge popularity these days. This is a drama on the historical theme and is based on the story of the famous Roman General of ancient time – Julius Caesar. The play tells about the conspiracy against Caesar and finally the end of the conspirators.

Summary of the Play
Caesar’s friend Cassius makes a conspiracy against Caesar. He also convinces the other friend of Caesar named Brutus to help him in his assassination. He tells Brutus that Caesar wants to change the Roman Republic to monarchy. He also writes letters to Brutus in different handwriting in order to convince him. Finally, Brutus agrees to take part in the conspiracy.

Caesar is killed by his friends, which comes in the Act 3 of the play. He is killed by the conspirators in the senate. The conspirators try to convince the public that they have accomplished this act for the sake of Rome. But, Caesar’s other friend Mark Antony starts his speech after getting the trust of the conspirators as well as public. He succeeds in turning the public opinion in Caesar’s favor and finally the conspirators had to run away from Rome. One of the companions of Brutus and Cassius, Lucius Cinna is murdered by the mob.
In the last act Cassius and Brutus prepare for war against Mark Antony and the adopted son of Caesar – Octavius. Finally, Brutus and Cassius were killed in the battle. In the end, Antony gives tribute to Brutus because he was the only person who did everything for the good of Rome.
Popular Scenes

There are some scenes in this drama, which are famous among the masses. The sorrowful scene of assassination of Caesar is one of the most famous among the audience. Besides, the speech of Mark Antony is the other one, in which he dramatically changes the opinion of the public.

Play Gave Fame to Julius Caesar
The play has gained a huge fame all over the world, and it will not be wrong to say that it has played a prominent role in giving the popularity to Roman General Julius Caesar.

Era of Tudors - Golden Era with Both Negative and Positive Sides

The era of Tudors – there is no doubt that it is accepted as one of the golden ages of England. The Tudor dynasty ruled the nation for the long duration of 118 years.

When we pay heed towards the era of Tudors, we find the mixed traits, which were both positive and negative. The most positive thing during that era was the beginning of the renaissance age in England. It was the era when a great flourish in the cultural activities was witnessed not only in England, but in the entire Europe. Science and arts flourished, which paved the way for the modern era. The prominent thing that put the influence on the modern times is the renaissance clothing. This was the new age clothing, in which a lot of flamboyance was added.

In addition, some new style dances and music styles also came in the limelight as a result of the artistic development. Volta and galliard were two famous renaissance dances. Samples of the Volta dances have been given in the two such films – “Elizabeth” and “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”.

In addition, paintings and architectures were also flourished up to some extent, and the role of Tudor monarchs can also not be denied in this regard. King Henry VIII’s interest in architecture is well-known. His daughter, Queen Elizabeth I had her own collection of paintings.

But, there is no doubt that the era of Tudors had some negative sides also. The most negative side was witnessed at the time of Queen Mary I. Queen Mary was a devout catholic and was desperate about reestablishing the catholic faith in England. She not only showed the strictness, but also burnt the innocent Protestants in stakes. It made the queen highly unpopular and gave a bad name to the Tudor dynasty. Mary was dubbed as “Bloody Mary” for this act.

With the end of the era of Queen Mary, the dark era of Tudor dynasty ended and Queen Elizabeth gave the equal respect to both the faiths during her reign. Moreover, she encouraged the art and culture and was also a great fond of fashion. The flamboyant renaissance costumes worn by her were widely popular. Her dresses were beaded by the ornaments. The dresses of the Queen Elizabeth are popular today also and are worn by the brides as the wedding gowns. These costumes are also put on by a lot of people in the themed events.

The era of Tudors will definitely be popular up to the coming scenario.

Anne Boleyn - Tudor Queen Who Ruled the Hearts of Modern People

English history is full of mysteries, and there are a number of facts, which are still the subject of research. Anne Boleyn, the queen consort of King Henry VIII of England, is one of the famous names that we can take as an example in this regard. She was the second wife of the king and was recognized as a key figure of English Reformation after her marriage and subsequent execution. The era of English Reformation was the time, when England progressed in various fields, such as art, culture, medieval costumes and more.

But, the word ‘reformation’ refers to the religious reformation against the dogmatism of Roman Catholic Church during that period. First, the king broke with Church of Rome in order to marry her and declared himself the head of Church of England. In this way, Anne indirectly contributed in reformation. Moreover, she was an open minded lady, which can be estimated with the fact that she argued to distribute the revenues to the charitable and educational institutions instead of giving them to church. She made this argument to Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex. It is claimed that Thomas conspired against Anne because of his dispute with her.

Anne Boleyn born in the year 1501, and was the daughter of Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire, and his wife Lady Elizabeth Howard. She got the education in Netherlands and France, and returned to England in the year 1522 for marrying her Irish cousin, James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond. But, the plans of her marriage with James failed, and she found the place as maid of Honor to Henry VIII’s first queen consort, Catherine of Aragon. In the year 1523, there was a secret betrothal between her and Henry Percy, son of the fifth Earl of Northumberland. But, the betrothal was broken in 1524, and she was sent back home to Hever Castle. King Henry tried to seduce her, which was one of the absorbing factors for his desire to marry her.
King annulled his marriage his first queen for marrying Anne. Roman Catholic Church declared it as illegal, but the king broke his relations with the church and declared himself the head of Church of England. There is no doubt that it seems that the relation was broken because of the selfish motive of the king. Still, it put some great impacts on the nation. He married Anne on 25th January 1933. She gave birth to Elizabeth on 7th September and could not give birth to son.

The relation of the two could not be continued for the long. She was found guilty for high treason in April 1536. Moreover, she was also accused of adultery and incest. There were no sufficient evidence found against her, but still she was beheaded on 19th May, 1536.

Despite the small time span of her existence as a queen, she became widely popular in England. Her renaissance clothing styles are copied by women in today’s scenario also. Moreover, some films have also been made on her biography. Interestingly, some researchers of occultism claim the existence of the ghost of Anne today also.

Communities of the Renaissance Age and Their Lifestyles

The renaissance age in Europe is undoubtedly an unforgettable era for the people of the western world. It was the era, when a great cultural and artistic rebirth was witnessed in the society. A stunning evolution took place in various fields, such as paintings, sculptures, renaissance costumes and so on. Besides, the lifestyles of that era became the source of inspiration of the modern times also.

An interesting thing about that era was that it was full of diverse cultures. A number of cultures were present during that period, which had their unique lifestyles. The commoners of that era used to constitute the mainstream society. Besides, the communities of serfs, royals/nobles/aristocrats and pirates were some other communities, which were making the societies.

Commoners:  They were the modest people of the society. They gained the huge interest in art and culture, which was reflected in his clothing styles also. The styles of these people were very much inspired with gothic and Germanic traditions. In the renaissance age, the massive clothes became prominent during the renaissance age. The popular women’s costumes of that era include linen chemises adorned with lace edges, lengthened breaches and heavy gowns etc. On the other hand, puffed trunk hose, padded doublet and balloon sleeves were the outfits of the men during that period. On the other hand, they had the healthy eating styles. Some of the eatables they would consume included roasts, soups, pastas, pastries and cheeses etc.

Serfs: Serfs, otherwise known as peasants, were the labor-class people of that era. They would work on the lands of the lords. Most of them would work on the lands of the lords, and they had to do hard labor in order to pay the dues. Sometimes, they also had to pay the rent in the form of money to the lords, apart from the labor. The clothing styles of these people were simple. They would wear a blouse that would be fastened with leather belt round the waist, and an overcoat or mental which was made up of thick woolen material.

Royals/Nobles/Aristocrats: These were the upper class communities of that era. They would wear the dresses beaded with the jewels. Moreover, their outfits were extravagant, many of which are fashion-statements for today’s people also. The dresses of Queen Elizabeth I were the best examples in this regard. Besides, they would eat the luxurious foods.

Pirates: Mainstream pirates were not part of lawful communities. They would wear the disorganized styles of outfits, which they would loot from the ships. The pirate clothing developed during that era is also the fashion statement of the people of today’s scenario. Their lifestyles were very much like the sailors. They would eat fresh veggies, eggs, meats and cheeses. Moreover, dice, cards, dance and singing were the leisure activities of these raiders, which they would use for fun. There was another class of pirates also, which belonged to the lawful raiders authorized by the government. Such raiders were known as privateers, and their work was to loot the treasure ships of the enemy nations. The privateers would live the lifestyles like nobles as they had the full support of the kingdom.

Contributions of Medici Family in Renaissance Movement

There is no doubt that a lot of political, economical, cultural and artistic activities took place in the renaissance age. A number of renaissance men and women gave their contributions in the flourish of different fields of art and science. Sculpture, painting, renaissance clothing and there were many other aspects, in which the society progressed. On the other hand, a huge growth had also been witnessed during that period.

Medici was unquestionably one of the big names during that period, whose contribution in the renaissance era can never be overlooked. It was a banking family, a political dynasty and later on became a royal family. Prominent contribution of this family is recognized in the economic growth of the society; however, it has some other contributions also. For instance, four popes of Roman Catholic Church were produced by this family. The popes from Medici family included Pope Leo X from 1513 to 1521, Pope Clement VII from 1523 to 1534, Pope Pius IV from 1559 to 1565, and Pope Leo XI  in 1605. So, this family had a great role in papacy also. Moreover, Catherine de' Medici (1547–1559) and Marie de' Medici (1600–1610) were two regent queens of France, who were from Medici Dynasty. The family also became hereditary Dukes of Florence in 1531 A.D.

Besides, the Medici family gained prominence in the wool trade in 14th century. It will be significant to mention that wool was used in manufacturing the medieval clothing as well as some renaissance costumes. France and Spain were two major centers of the wool trade. Besides, the family also rose to power through its social network with elite families by means of partnership, employment and the marriage of convenience. Some of the big families of that period included Salviati, Bardi, Cavalcanti and the Tornabuoni. The foundation of this family is thought to be done by Averardo de' Medici. His son Giovanni di Bicci created the Medici Bank and became the one of the richest men in Florence. Besides, he gained the good support for introduction of proportional taxing system. His son Cosimo the Elder, Pater Patriae, became the unofficial head of states of the Florentine Republic in 1434. Florence was ruled by three successive generations of Medici in a big part of 15th Century. They altogether abolished representative government, still they clearly dominated it.

Medici is supposed to be one of the contributors in the commencement of proper banking system. Today also, many of the facets of the renaissance age influence the modern age including the banking system. This is the reason why renaissance period is supposed to be the era, which showed the path to the modern times.

Era of Queen Elizabeth I: The Real Golden Age

Queen Elizabeth I was undoubtedly a great monarch in the history of England. Her popularity reached the extent that a complete era was named after her. She had a great vision to run a kingdom, plus she treated equally the people of every faith, unlike her catholic sister Mary I who would burn the protestants in stakes just because of difference in ideas. Elizabeth was a devout protestant, but many of her courtiers would keep the catholic faith.

On the other side, renaissance age was going on in the era of Queen Elizabeth when people started taking interest in art and culture. The new age paintings, sculptures and architectures, were in the limelight. Elizabeth was also a great fan of painting. Moreover, the people’s interest in the flamboyant clothing started enhancing. Queen would also wear these renaissance dresses. Her costumes would be beaded with jewels, which were the subject of allure for the people.

Besides, music and dance were also flourished during the era of this queen. Volta and galliard were two famous renaissance dances during that period. Volta dance gained more popularity, when Queen Elizabeth performed this dance with her friend Robert Dudley. This dance has been displayed in a famous film “Elizabeth” that was released in 1998. Another demonstration of the Volta dance can be seen in a 2007 film – “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”, between Sir Walter Raleigh and Bess (queen’s lady-in-wait). People wearing beautiful renaissance and medieval costumes have also been displayed perfectly in these films. Moreover, Shakespearean dramas also belonged to the era of Elizabeth, which have been played today also with great enthusiasm.

Apart from the development in art and culture, the Elizabethan era was the age of the scientific revolution, and a number of inventions and explorations were being made by several great men. This era paved the way for the modern age in a true sense. That is why, many of the scholars call this era – the early modern age.

The Elizabethan Era has set a perfect example for the later ages, and it has provided a lot of things to today’s scenario. The renaissance costumes of that era are part of the fashion trends in the recent times. Apart from the costumes, art, culture and music of that period are also the subject of inspiration today. The new-age artists take the ideas from these artistic genres and prepare the new styles. The confluence of the costumes of Elizabethan and modern era, really provides a distinct genre. www.tudordressing.com is the best example of tudor era and Queen Elizabeth's lifestyle costume and dresses.

History Livens Up in Movie ‘Elizabeth’

Queen Elizabeth I gained a huge attention in Tudor Era because of her dedication towards her nation. She never married in her life, gave her entire life to the nation. A complete era has been named after her, which we know today as Elizabethan Era. Some films and television programs have also been made on her biography time to time.

In the year 1998, a biographical film named “Elizabeth” was released. The plot of the film was written by Michael Hirst, and the film was directed by Shekhar Kapur. Cate Blanchet played the role of Queen Elizabeth and won several awards notably BAFTA and Golden Globe in the year 1998.

The film presents the story of young Elizabeth. Her elder half-sister Mary I dies because of cancerous tumor in her uterus. She leaves Elizabeth as Queen, who was jailed before for a supposed conspiracy to assassinate Mary. But, now she has been freed for her coronation, in the beautiful medieval costume. He is being surrounded by suitors such as Henri Duc d’Anjou – future Henry III of France. Besides, she was urged for marriage by William Cecil, 1st Baron of Burghley. He states that the marriage will secure her throne. But, Elizabeth is secretly involved in an affair with Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. But, Cecil tells Elizabeth that there is no private life of a monarch.

Elizabeth has to face a lot of threats to her reign. Some of the conspirators, whom she faces included Duke of Norfolk, her catholic cousin Mary – Queen of Scots, Mary in Guise (mother of Mary, Queen of Scots) and an agent from Scotland. Moreover, she also countenances the plots from Rome by Pope Pius V (Giegud). But, all the threats are put down by her in assistance of her spymaster and adviser Francis Walsingham. Duke of Norfolk is executed for his conspiracy. Besides, Mary of Guise is killed by Francis.

On the other hand, Elizabeth expels Dudley from her life, when she comes to know that he is married. Moreover, she gives up sex as she believes that it makes the men powerful over her. She becomes increasingly tough, which is reflected in one of her speeches also. She also becomes ruthless occasionally, when she orders the execution of those who are the threats for her rule. The entire story of the film depicts her transformation from a romantic girl to a tough queen, who dominates the men around her.

A glance of pre-Elizabethan England can also be witnessed in this film. Burning of Protestants on orders of Queen Mary I and Philip has also been displayed in this movie. Apart from such horrible scene, wonderful Volta dance of Robert Dudley and Elizabeth in stunning medieval clothing can also be enjoyed. This film enlivens the Elizabethan Era perfectly in front of our eyes. The clothes were fabulous weared by elizabeth. Want to more about dressing the http://www.tudordressing.com/ is one of the top site.