Social structure: Shakespeare lived in a highly stratified society, with a rigid class hierarchy. The upper classes, including the nobility and gentry, held all the power and wealth. The lower classes, including peasants, servants, and laborers, had few rights and were often treated poorly.
Urbanization: Shakespeare's time saw a significant increase in urbanization, with more and more people moving to cities. London, where Shakespeare lived and worked, was the largest city in England, with a population of over 100,000.
Disease: Life expectancy in Shakespeare's time was much shorter than it is today, due to the lack of sanitation and the prevalence of disease. The plague, or Black Death, was a major killer, wiping out millions of people in Europe.
Hygiene: People in Shakespeare's time did not have the same standards of hygiene as we do today. They rarely bathed, and their clothes were often dirty and lice-ridden.
Medical care: Medical care in Shakespeare's time was very limited. Doctors had little understanding of the human body, and their treatments were often ineffective or even harmful.
Entertainment: Shakespeare's time saw the rise of the theater, which became a popular form of entertainment for all classes of people. Shakespeare himself was a successful playwright, and his works are still performed all over the world today.
Literature: Shakespeare's time was a golden age of literature, with many great writers producing works that are still read and enjoyed today. In addition to Shakespeare, other notable writers from this time include Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, and Edmund Spenser.
Art: Shakespeare's time also saw a great flowering of art, with many talented artists producing paintings, sculptures, and other works of art that are still admired today. Some of the most famous artists from this time include Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.
Music: Shakespeare's time saw the development of new forms of music, including the madrigal and the motet. Many talented musicians lived during this time, and their works are still performed and enjoyed today.
Technology: Shakespeare's time saw a number of important technological innovations, including the printing press, the telescope, and the compass. These innovations helped to change the way people lived and worked.
Exploration: Shakespeare's time was a time of great exploration, with European explorers charting new lands in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. This exploration led to a greater understanding of the world and its people.
Politics: Shakespeare's time was a time of great political change, with the English monarchy becoming more powerful and the Parliament playing a more important role in government. This shift in power led to a number of conflicts, including the English Civil War.
Religion: Shakespeare's time was a time of religious change, with the Protestant Reformation challenging the authority of the Catholic Church. This religious conflict led to a number of conflicts, including the Thirty Years' War.
Overall, life in Shakespeare's time was very different from life today. It was a time of great change and upheaval, but it was also a time of great creativity and innovation.