William Shakespeare’s Othello was first performed between 1604 and 1605 by the King’s Men.
The period was informed by a number of significant socio-historic events and movements that many interpret as having a direct bearing on the play, which include changes in attitudes towards military might, exploration, orientalism and colonialisation.
One of the predominant trends that had taken hold of political society at the time involved the tensions between the ways in which the {military} was being perceived. For a long time many believed that knights should be characterized by genteel and chivalrous behavior. As the 17th century unfolded however, a greater number had begun to assert that military strategies should be conceived of as a science that was both aggressive and professional.
These tensions between the old ideals and the new assertions are brought directly to bear in the play—Othello is caught between the {two schools of thought}; he continues to believe in the necessary chivalry of military might. This makes him particularly vulnerable to Iago, who in turn, has discounted all need for kindness and compassion in a violent bid to further his own gains. Some have therefore read Iago as a perversion of the newer breed of military men.
copiousnotes.typepad.com/.../2003_lago.html
http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/EnglandversusSpainTheDefe.html
During this watershed period, ideas such as {colonialism} and {Orientalism} (the study and depiction of Eastern cultures by writers and artists in the West) were rife. Later, many argued that such depictions of the East by Westerners was derogatory, biased, and unfair. Nevertheless, the blossoming of exploration and therefore trade as well, had a profound impact on the minds of artists and politicians alike. It is more than probable that a good number of these socio-historical developments left their influence on Othello, which revolves chiefly around the marriage of Desdemona, a Venetian, to the Moor Othello.
http://www.fleurdelis.com/timetabl.htm
References:
- Wikipedia's entry on Othello {http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othello}
- Article on Othello and historical context {http://www.answers.com/topic/othello-play-5}
- Excerpts from Virginia Mason Vaugham's Othello: a contextual history {http://books.google.com.sg/books?hl=en&lr=&id=fepct4EClZQC&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=othello+and+the+theme+of+exploration&ots=azPzGSbsgW&sig=j30KgR0sIQXQH6juET2_sek9jag#PPA4,M1}