C5 - English Sailors Flashcards
Who was the first person to circumnavigate the world in a single expedition?
Sir Francis Drake
What was significant about Drake’s circumnavigation?
It showed how powerful England was at sea, so brought lots of national pride. It also gained England land (Drake landed in North America and claimed it for the queen). England also gained wealth from the mission as the ships raided many Spanish ports along the way.
What was the role of Sir Walter Raleigh in exploration?
- in 1584, he was given royal permission to explore the Americas (the New World)
- he would be allowed to colonise any land that was not ruled by a Christian
- in return, he had to give the queen one fifth of the gold and silver he found there
- he did not sail himself, but sent others to explore and establish colonies in the New World
How was exploration made possible by new developments in navigation, technology and defences?
Navigation - the astrolabe allowed sailors to judge their position and more accurate compasses made navigation easier
Technology - better designed ships were much faster due to the triangular lateen sail
Defences - better weapons such as cannons made it easier to explore hostile territory
Who was John Hawkins and what did he do?
- he was a respected sailor and courtier
- he was responsible for beholding up the navy and commanding it against the Spanish Armada
- in 1564, he kidnapped several hundred West Africans and sold them in South America. This was the first time England had been involved in the slave trade
- he was also a successful privateer and is thought to have brought tobacco to England
How did exploration allow England to gain wealth?
- raiding Spanish ports and ships meant riches could be stolen and brought back to England
- trading systems were established form which England’s wealth grew over the years. New products like spices, silks and porcelain were brought to England for the first time
- trade with the east grew and middlemen could be cut out - English sailors would deal directly with merchants in Asia
- new companies were created to deal with trade in a particular area (e.g. Levant company dealt with trade in Turkey and the Middle East)
- the East India company was established in 1600 to oversee trade in India and the Far East
- the trade in African slaves brought significant wealth to England. Slave labour enabled raw materials to be produced cheaply in the Americas
How did exploration help grow England’s power?
- naval power had been growing under Elizabeth and was able to hold its own in any sea battle
- improved weapons and tactics, and the skilled command of men like Francis Drake, played a key role in this
- the English victory over the Spanish Armada showed the dominant position that England now had
How did exploration expand England’s territory?
England was not the first country to build colonies in newly discovered lands, and there were several failed attempts. But perseverance led to increasing numbers of colonies, particularly in North America, being established in the name of Queen Elizabeth and her successors.
