During which period did early English drama first develop?

Early English drama first developed during the Middle Ages, which is characterized by significant cultural and artistic changes, including the emergence of theatrical performances. This period saw the rise of morality plays, mystery plays, and other forms of religious drama, often performed in churches or public spaces to convey biblical stories and moral lessons to audiences that were largely illiterate. These performances were integral to community life and laid the foundation for the more structured forms of drama that emerged in the Renaissance.

Other periods mentioned, such as the Renaissance, saw the flourishing of more sophisticated drama, particularly with playwrights like Shakespeare, but this development built upon the earlier works initiated during the Middle Ages. The Enlightenment and the Romantic Era are characterized by different artistic movements and themes that follow after the foundational development of drama in the Middle Ages, thus making them less relevant to the origins of English drama.