The Elizabethan Era lasted from 1550 to 1625, it was a time of great change in English culture. “Perhaps for the first time in history, man has looked upon his recent past with contempt, dismissing the Middle Ages, somewhat unfairly, as an irremediably backward period.” (Kemper 67). Queen Elizabeth I ruled from 1558 to 1602. Queen Elizabeth dramatically changed the design of dresses. He created new sumptuary laws that dictated who could wear which distinct colors and articles of clothing. The Elizabethan era was a time of change in all aspects of life, particularly in design and the laws governing clothing. Clothing was changed forever in the Elizabethan era. What came out of this era was the Renaissance and the Reformation. Both of these periods in time had a major effect on the way of life. The Reformation was created by Protestants who were disengaging from the church. They were angry at the Catholic church and accused the church of corruption. Martin Luther was a leading figure in this movement and was ridiculed by the church. From 1530 to 1540, the Catholic Church tried to regain its supremacy over Europe, sending missionaries and holding biblical conferences around the world. The Protestants managed to leave the church and found a different religion; but the Catholic church is still one of the largest and longest-lived religions in the world. Renaissance people tried to recreate their culture. “Renaissance man looked back to classical antiquity and attempted to create a way of life based on the glories of ancient Greece and the greatness of ancient Rome… Yet Renaissance classicism went far beyond simply reconstructing the classical past” ( Kemper 67). The Renaissance was described as an extravagant time… middle of the paper… to the extreme. We do not have sumptuary laws installed by the government but there are rules that clothing must adhere to. The Elizabethan era was a time of culture and love of the arts. This era will forever live as a time of change and a newfound love for the beauty that humans can create. Works Cited Alchin, Linda. “Elizabethan clothing permitted for men.” Elizabethan era. Np nd Web.May 21, 2014.Alchin, Linda. "Elizabethan clothing". Elizabethan era. NP and Web. May 21, 2014.Alchin, Linda. "Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws". Elizabethan era. NP and Web. May 21, 2014.Kemper, Rachel H. A History of Customs. NY: Newsweek, 1977. Print.Sandeen, Del. "Elizabethan fashion for men". Love to know. NP and Web. May 20, 2014. Tomecek, January "Elizabethan Fashion - Page 2." Elizabethan fashion - Page 2. Np ndWeb. August 2001. May 21st 2014.