1599 & 1999

Education

Education in 1599 was much more different than education in 1999. In 1599 boys would usually go to a nursery school called a ‘Petty school’ first then they would move when they were about seven to grammar school. The school day began at 6am in summer and 7am in winter. Lunch was from 11 am to 1 pm and school finished around 5 pm. Boys went to school 6 days a week and there were few holidays. As for girls, if they were rich they would usually be taught at home by a personal tutor. In a middle class family themother might teach their daughters however lower class girls were not sent to school. 

 

When the boys were about 15 or 16 years old they might go to one of England’s two universities, Oxford and Cambridge. Not many boys did go to school and if they were lucky they might get a 7-year apprenticeship and learn a trade. Some craftsmen could read and write but few of them could. 

 

Tudor  children who did not go to school were expected to work. They helped their parents by doing tasks like scaring the birds when seeds were sown, weaving wool and other household tasks.

 

Education in 1999 was slightly different and there was more of a gender equality. Women of all classes were able to receive an education not just the higher class and middle class. In the early 20th century the teachers would be allowed to hit the children but in 1999 it was finally abolished in most schools. Children had far more opportunities for education and training than ever before unlike in the 16th century.

 

 

Dating

In 1599 a man usually had to get permission from a woman’s father or other family member before starting a relationship and if the couple loved each other very much they would have a period of courtship with the intention of getting married if everything went well.

 

Dating in 1999, men and women were on much more equal terms and women could decide for themselves on whom they would like to date. The couple would have faced the traditional need to find love and fill their homes with children and wealth. Dates took on a far more casual feeling, and as the time passed, men would usually ask the parents their permission to marry their daughter which was similar in 1599. 

 

 

Holidays

 In 1599 they were many holidays and celebrations. It was very common for a wealthy man to travel abroad on a grand tour of Europe to finish their education. A grand tour would last years and would take in the most famous places in Europe. Christmas was a holiday and a celebration. Tudor England would celebrate Christmas for 12 whole days, December 25th-6th January. All work stopped except looking after animals. People would visit friends and family and it was seen as a very social and happy holiday. Work re-started on Plough Monday the first Monday after 12th night.

 

In 1999 people travelled by several means such as: airplane, train, car and boat and foreign holidays were much more frequent as cheaper airtravel made it easier for people to travel overseas. People still celebrate Christmas but usually just for 2 days instead of 12. 

 

Food

In 1599 the rich would eat a large amount of meat but ate only a small proportion of vegetables. By law, on certain days, people had to eat fish instead of meat. This was first because of religious reasons but later it was to support the fishing industry. If you lived near the sea or a river you could eat fresh fish like herrings or mackerel or you might have to rely on dried or salted fish. 

 

The poor ate a dreary diet, in the morning eating bread, cheese and onions. They only had one cooked meal a day. They mixed grain with water, added vegetables and if they could afford it strips of meat. Everyone, of all classes, ate bread but it varied in quality. The rich ate bread which was made from fine white flour but the poor ate coarse bread made of barley or rye. The Tudor family were also keen on sweet foods if they could afford them. In 1599 sugar was very expensive so most people used honey to sweeten their food.

 

New foods were introduced such as: Turkeys, potatoes and tomatoes, from the Americas. At first the English did not really eat the potatoes but they soon became popular. Usually people did not drink water because it was too dirty so young children would drink milk and other people would drink ale or beer and if they were rich wine. Most Tudors also drank cider and perry. 

 

The rich loved to show off their expensive plating and usually ate on gold and silver plates. The middle classes would have dishes and bowls made out of tin with copper called pewter and the poor ate on wooden plates and bowls. There were no forks so the people ate with knives their fingers or with spoons. The rich had silver or pewter spoons and the poor used wooden ones. 

 

People made much of their own food. A farmers wife cured bacon and salted meat to preserve it. She would bake bread and brew beer. She also made pickles and conserves and preserved vegetables. Many farms kept bees for honey.

 

Food in 1999 has greatly improved and much more varied than in 1599. The diet of 1999 was much more balanced and vegetables and fruits were consumed more. With the invention of fridges, freezers and microwave ovens more people were able to keep perishable foods. Many new kinds of foods were introduced such as processed foods which are causing health issues and genetically modified foods (GMOs) which have been also causing health concerns. Since people work so much more, a lot of people go to restaurants or to fast food joints and these places have been gaining more popularity over the years. In 1999 people eat more varied food as the vastly improved transportation allows food from any region to be shipped worldwide.