Shakespeare's London
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603), England became one of the most powerful countries in the world due to its fearsome navy. London was at the heart of its culture and trade. London in Shakespeare's time was much smaller than it is today, with a population of about 200,000, but even then it was an amazing mix of people. The trade that was carried along the River Thames created much of London's wealth. The river provided water for the city and was a source of food for many people. At the same time it also served as the city's sewer!
The people of London liked to be entertained then as they do now. They liked to go to the theatre to see new plays. They also enjoyed watching animal fights such as bear baiting and cock fighting. It was very popular and was considered almost as much fun as the public hangings people used to watch. Even Queen Elizabeth thought this was good entertainment. The area around the Globe there were several theatres, more than 300 inns (pubs) and many gambling houses and bear baiting pits. The mix of people that Shakespeare met on London's streets were sure to have inspired some of the wild characters we have become familiar with through his plays.
