2.1.1 Piracy & Plunder Flashcards
In _____, Henry VII (the first Tudor king) asked John _____ to explore further into the ‘unknown world’. Later, Tudor and ______ monarchs encouraged more trade and exploration into new lands, laying the foundations for an overseas empire
1496, Cabot, Stuart
In the late 1400s, what improvements meant longer journeys were possible, and more ships returned from these journeys?
Improvements in technology for ships and navigation
When did the European navigator Christopher Columbus sail to the Caribbean?
1492
What are the 2 key features of Christopher Columbus’ adventure?
- Hoped to find new routes to India and China by sea
- Sailed west which meant he landed in the West Indies
What happened soon after Christopher sailed to the Caribbean?
Spain and Portugal began to claim land in the Caribbean as their own
Spain and Portugal had a monopoly on trade in the Caribbean. What does this mean?
This means that they controlled the trade in the Caribbean and other countries could not benefit from trading there
What were pirates?
Spain and Portugal’s monopoly meant that Englishmen who wanted to trade in the Caribbean would have to pay hefty taxes…unless they trades illegally and secretly. These men were known as pirates, and many English traders became pirates and smugglers at this time
What were privateers?
Some traders and navigators were even given a licence by their monarch/government to attack foreign ships, in order to protect their country’s overseas possessions or trade. These men were little more than pirates, except they were acting legally in the eyes of their government. They became known as privateers (as opposed to pirates, who were acting illegally and without permission). Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh were some of the most famous privateers
In the 1400s, developments for technology for ships and navigation meant that longer journeys were possible. What did this lead Christopher Columbus to do?
In 1492, this lead to Christopher Columbus sailing across the Atlantic to find new routes to India and China. However, instead of finding China, he finds the lands that he calls the ‘West Indies’, the continents we now know as America. Therefore, this shows that Spain was the first major nation to colonise the Americas - Spanish became powerful
What happened in 1496?
Henry VII gives John Cabot the mission of finding new lands
Under Elizabeth II, technology developed. What are two examples and their definitions?
- Lateen: a triangular sail, helping you move
- Astrolabe: compass helping navigation
Describe John Cabot’s expedition
In 1496, he sailed from Bristol on behalf of King Henry VII. He landed on modern-day Canada however found no riches so returned home. This marked the start of the British Empire
Why did Britain begin to want to explore the ‘New World’?
Tudors were successful in uniting England, Wales and some parts of Ireland. Stuarts were then successful in inviting Scotland too, with the help of James I of England and Scotland. Britain started becoming more prosperous and farming and industry expanded, this created a surge of greater overseas trade and people started looking towards the ‘New World’
Describe the early attempts by the British to find gold and create colonies
Early attempts by the British to find gold and create colonies were unsuccessful, but they did establish bases on the North American east coast. From these bases they could explore further and plunder riches from SPanish ships and colonies, often using privateers
Describe Sir Walter Raleigh’s expedition (3)
- He was encouraged by Francis Drake
- Persuaded by Elizabeth to explore the lands in North America. America had already been colonised by Spain from 1565 (mainland Florida) so Raleigh wanted to find an area that was yet unconquered. The first colony he established was in Roanoke 1584
- Roanoke is a mystery/controversy. Colonists living in Roanoke experienced problems. They arrived to late to plant he seeds and they had to rely on the natives. The leader of the colony was blocked by the Spanish armada on his way home so he waits years and when he came back, everything was gone..
When did Walter Raleigh establish Roanoke?
1584
What was Francis Drake the first person to do?
First person to circumnavigate the globe (go all around it)
Why did Francis Drake circumnavigate the globe? (2)
- To find new sources of trade
- To challenge spanish domination
Why were trade and exploration very integral to Britain at this time period?
Trade and exploration were very integral to english foreign policy at setting the stage to this entrance of Britain as a global superpower who was involved in international affairs
Describe how plantations started replacing piracy
By the 1600s, English people started to cultivate plantations on the 13 colonies. Plantations thrived in the Southern colonies like Georgia, South Carolina etc. British monarchs stoped granting privateers permissions. Plantations provided huge profits. However, settlers from Britain had many problems with working on plantations. There were hard conditions such as new diseases, hot weather, crop failures and food shortages. Eventually, no one wanted to work on them so indentured servants were used. 1616: slaves
Who was Sir John Hawkins?
John Hawkins was a respected English naval commander, merchant, privateer, pirate and was responsible for building up the Elizabethan Royal Navy. He was the cousin of Francis Drake, another well-known explorer and slave trade
Who was John Hawkins financed by in order to complete his first mission?
Group of London merchanst
Describe John Hawkins first expedition in 1562
In 1562, John Hawkins stole a Portuguese slave ship off the West Coast of Africa and he sold the enslaved Africans in the Caribbean. The trip was very profitable
Why did John Hawkins go on his first expedition in 1562?
In the 16th and 17th centuries, England was a minor player in comparison to Spain and Portugal. Spanish made vast profits from gold and silver mines in South America while the Portuguese focused on cultivating sugar in Brazil and the Caribbean. To do this, they needed cheap labour (that they would sometimes work to death) to get valuable sugar to Europe to be sold at a huge profit.
