Amazon.com description: Product Description: The reign of Queen Elizabeth I, which spanned more than 40 years, was a time of economic stability, with outstanding successes in the fields of maritime exploration and defense, a huge expansion in trade, the creation of new industries, a rise in social mobility and the development of an extraordinary literary culture. Elizabeth I & Her People explores the stories of those individuals whose achievements brought about these changes, as well as giving a fascinating glimpse into their way of life through accessories and artifacts. The book features portraits of the Queen and her courtiers, including explorers such as Francis Drake and Martin Frobisher, statesmen and soldiers, and portraits of the Queen's female courtiers. From the mid-sixteenth century, interest in portraiture broadened as members of a growing wealthy middle class sought to have their likenesses captured for posterity. The book includes lesser-known images of Elizabethan merchants, lawyers, goldsmiths, butchers, calligraphers, playwrights and artists.