3.3 - Exploration and Voyages Of Discovery Flashcards
Why were the explorers attracted to America?
The explorers were attracted to America as the rewards for discovering new land could be enormous. The vast majority of the Americas was undiscovered and there were hopes of finding even more riches away from the coasts, where there had been little exploration with an abundance of valuable material
Who was John Hawkins?
John Hawkins was a navigator, slave trader and the man behind some of the key developments in the English navy that enabled the Armada to be defeated. He was the first Englishman to become involved in the slave trade, he first bought them in 1562, being the first Englishman to recognise the value of the trade
What were other reasons aside from economic oppurtunities to explore America?
- New World
- Politics
- New Technology
Why was new oppurtunities a reason for exploring the New World?
- Wars with Spain and Netherlands had disrupted wool and cloth trade - needed new markets
- Massive rewards e.g Americas full of riches; exotic crops. silver, sugar, tobacco
- Trans-Atlantic slave trade - very profitable
- North-West Passage - search for new route to Asia over the top of North America
- Adventure - was a key motivation for many young Noble men
Why was politics a reason for exploring the New World?
- Wars with Spain and in Netherlands had hit trade hard
- Rivalry with spain for naval dominance
- Drake as a privateer targeting Spanish ships
- Massive rewards e.g Americas full of riches, exotic crops, silver. Financial rewards result in increased power and control and influence over other European powers
Why was new technology a reason for exploring the New World?
- Quadrant / Astrolabe - new navigation made travelling easier
- Map / printing - Mercator map more accurate and printing meant they were used by more people
- Ship design - Galleons were quicker, more maneuverable, more cargo space, more fire power
Why did Drake circumnavigate the globe?
Political reason - To raid Spanish colonies in the Pacific as relations at the time were deteriorating
Personal reason - Drake wanted revenge from 1567-68 when he had accompanied John Dawkins on a third trans-Atlantic expedition. They also wanted to stop Spain trading in the New World but they were attacked at St Juan de Ulúa
Economic reason - Drake would return a rich and famous man, also making his investors rich. Estimates say he made £500,000,000 in today’s money
What were the positives of the circumnavigation of the globe?
- Gave good reputation for Engiand’s sailors
- Peaceful welcome from native Americans
- Given a huge sum of money (500m in todays money)
- Boost in English morale
- Knighted by Elizabeth I
- Drake became rich and famous
- Gathered information about the America
- Positive meeting with Native American population (declared area as Nova Albion)
What were the negatives of the circumnavigation of the globe?
- Set out with 5 ships, came back with one
- One sailor was executed for mutiny (Thomas doughty)
- Almost ended in disaster
- Severely damaged Anglo-Spanish relations
