Early attempts at colonisation Flashcards
who was the first European to discover the Americas?
Christopher Columbus, 1492
by the 16th century who was the greatest imperial power?
the Spanish Empire- incorporated the Portuguese Empire within its own when it acquired Portugal, between 1580-1640
who was John Cabot?
an Italian working for Henry VII, in 1497 he claimed land that would become known as Newfoundland
this became the first part of England’s new empire- however no English settled
what did Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I encourage?
encouraged explorers to find new trade routes to China, the Spice Islands and India
empire did not expand much
why were Elizabethans reluctant to invest overseas?
no imperial policy
Elizabeth inherited a bankrupt throne, so exploration had to be self-financed
what did the Spanish and Portuguese have that English wanted?
gold from El Dorado and spices from the East Indies
who did Henry VIII commission to find land in Brazil? were they successful?
Thomas Pert and Sebastian Cabot- no
what company was established in 1555?
the Muscovy Company- lasted until the 1917 Revolution
in 1588, where was English maritime activity limited to?
European waters
why was there a search for the Northwest passage?
to find a route to China that wasn’t through the East since it was deemed too difficult and uncertain- since they knew the world was a globe, they believed there was a westerly passage
was John Cabot successful in finding the Northwest Passage?
no- although he and his sons did find Newfoundland where they recorded huge fish stocks
what other attempts was made to find the Northwest passage?
several failed attempts by 1580 led by Martin Frobisher
why did privateering in the west grow steadily in the 1560s?
English privateers collaborated with French Huguenots and Dutch Sea Beggars with support from some of the Queen’s ministers- aimed to cut off Spain from its supply of treasure from the New World
how did Francis Drake make navigation to the East easier?
attacked a Portuguese ship and stole their maps
