In the Renaissance, at the end of 15th century, the world began to change: the Wars of Roses, the long civil war for the throne between the House of York and the House of >Lancaster, had come to an end in 1485. In 1474 William Caxton printed his first text and modern english, as a language, was born; and America was discovered.

There were developments in art, philosophy and learning, based on the rediscovery of the classical world of Greece and Rome

The Renaissance in England was connected to the consolidation of the Tudor dynasty with the reign of Elizabeth I. Elizabethan Englad was a dividen nation of Catholics, Protestants and Puritans.

The Reformation brought about by Henry VIII in 1533, had changed England's religious life. Later during the reign of Henry's daughter, Mary I, who brought Catholicism back to England, hundreds of people were burned as heretics.

Elizabeth had also to face the serious economic problems caused both by the increase in population and price inflation => it was one of the most interesting and important periods in English history.

The central theme of Elizabethan literature, which found its best expression in drama, was the conflict between the individual and social order.

The golden age of drama was represented by Shakespeare: he drew from all kinds of sources, showed a deep knowledge of the human heart and portrayed life without imposing his personal idea. This was also the age of questions.