Interpretations of Elizabeth I's Golden Age

History
Year 9 / GCSE / Grade 8
8 questions
~16 mins
1 views0 downloads

About This Worksheet

This worksheet explores different interpretations of Elizabeth I's reign, encouraging students to compare historian views and evaluate their arguments.

Worksheet Preview

Full preview • 8 questions

Interpretations of Elizabeth I's Golden Age

Subject: HistoryGrade: Year 9 / GCSE / Grade 8
Name:
Date:
TeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizz

Untitled Worksheet

Grade Year 9 / GCSE / Grade 8
A

Interpretations of Elizabeth I's Golden Age

Historian A: John Guy – Political and Cultural Prosperity

'Elizabeth I’s reign marked a period of stability and flourishing culture. Her skillful political leadership maintained peace and strengthened England’s position internationally. The era saw remarkable achievements in arts, literature, and exploration, which contributed to a sense of national pride. Elizabeth’s ability to balance power, manage threats, and promote cultural growth created a true Golden Age for England.'

Historian B: Lisa Hilton – Social and Economic Challenges

'While Elizabeth’s reign is often celebrated, it also faced significant social and economic problems. Poverty, religious conflict, and inequality persisted despite the apparent prosperity. The perceived Golden Age was also a time of hardship for many ordinary people, and the era's glory was largely a product of elite achievements and propaganda, masking underlying social tensions.'

1.
Summarize each historian's view on Elizabeth I's Golden Age.
[3 marks]
2.
Compare the reasons why the two historians have different views about Elizabeth I’s reign.
[4 marks]
3.
Evaluate which historian provides a more convincing view of Elizabeth I’s Golden Age. Justify your answer.
[6 marks]
4.
Explain why some historians might argue that Elizabeth I’s Golden Age was more propaganda than reality.
[3 marks]
5.
Outline the main achievements attributed to Elizabeth I’s reign according to Historian A.
[3 marks]
6.
Describe some of the social challenges faced during Elizabeth I’s reign as highlighted by Historian B.
[3 marks]
7.
Compare the focus of each historian when evaluating Elizabeth I’s Golden Age.
[4 marks]
8.
Analyse how the different perspectives of these historians influence their overall evaluation of Elizabeth I’s Golden Age.
[6 marks]

Quick Actions

What is Remix?

Create a new worksheet based on this one. Change the grade level, topic, number of questions, or difficulty - then generate a fresh version.

  • • Change grade level (Grade 6 → Grade 7)
  • • Swap topics (Harry Potter → Macbeth)
  • • Add more questions (10 → 15)
  • • Adjust difficulty

Details

Created
1/1/2026
Updated
1/1/2026
Type
worksheet