The Elizabethan era was a turning point in the history of England. It marked a new advanced era of poetry and literature. Often called the golden age of English history, the Renaissance brought new light to citizens (“Elizabethan Era”). Thanks to Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603), England emerged as a major naval and commercial power (Pressley JM). In addition to becoming a major world power, England became a leading nation in education. As people became more educated, England was pulled out of the Middle Ages. The English Renaissance, which lasted from the 1500s to the early 1600s, was a very significant period for England. Queen Elizabeth came to power and encouraged education. She was a major supporter of the theater ("English Online"). The study of Greek and Roman texts is also growing in popularity (Turnpike, Sherman). As a result of this sudden craving for knowledge, literacy among residents of England improved dramatically (Greaves, Richard). This literary Renaissance was a major turning point in history as education was considered important. The education and literacy of the English people was a crucial part of Elizabethan daily life because it allowed the people to prosper. Young boys' lives were improved through education, thus making it a central focus of their lives. Schooling for boys became very important in Elizabethan England. When they reached the age of five, boys were sent to what was known as a "Petty School" (Turnpike 4). In these schools, children were taught to read and write in English, as well as learning good manners (Turnpike 4). A boy's basic education was extremely important. Their early years were a crucial time for learning. All t...... middle of paper ...... e." Encyclopedia Britannica Online, nd Web. April 21, 2014"The Elizabethan Age." The Elizabethan Age. National Endowment For The Arts, nd Web.20 April 2014. “English Online.” Theater in the Age of Shakespeare. 20 April 2014. “Elizabethan Era,” Princeton University, 21 April 2014. Greaves, Richard L. “The Role of Education.” .Minneapolis: U of Minnesota, 1981. Web page. Larque, Thomas. “Elizabethan Theater – A Lecture” Elizabethan Theatre. 23 April 2014. Pressley, J.M. “Elizabethan England.” April 2013. Web. 5 May 2014. Ross, Magi. “What Every Schoolboy Knows.” Life in Elizabethan England 54: 27 March. 2008. Web. 22 April 2014 Libraries Vol. 2. Danbury, CT: Grolier Educational, 2002. 4-5.