Elizabeth: Exploration and the Spanish Armada

Question 1

Why did Britain develop training routes during Elizabethan times? (4 reasons)

Answer 1

• To bring in expensive goods e.g. silk
• So they didn’t have to pay tax to the Ottoman Turks.
• The triangular lateen sail allowed ships to sail in any direction regardless of wind
• To make money

Question 2

What were Privateers?

Answer 2

People licenced by Elizabeth to steal from Britain’s enemies e.g Spain.

Question 3

What was the Eastland Company?

Answer 3

A trading company founded in 1579 which traded timber and rope with Scandinavia.

Question 4

What was the Levant Company?

Answer 4

They traded goods such as dyes in the Mediterranean.

Question 5

What was the East India Company?

Answer 5

A company formed in 1600 which traded silk, tea, and spices in the Far East.

Question 6

Who was Sir Walter Raleigh and what were his aims?

Answer 6

He was an explorer who tried to colonise North America. His aims were:

• To colonise and take control of trading of goods (e.g. wine and oil) in North America.
• To ease poverty and overpopulation in Britain; people could be sent abroad.

Question 7

Was Raleigh successful in his colonisation attempts?

Answer 7

No, both attempts failed.

Question 8

What impact did Raleigh’s voyages have?

Answer 8

He developed the idea that colonies could be set up in North America - Virginia was later colonised after Elizabeth’s death.

Question 9

Who was Sir Francis Drake?

Answer 9

A Privateer and successful captain who circumnavigated the globe 1577-80

Question 10

What problems did Drake face circumnavigating the globe?

Answer 10

• Rough seas
• Pirates
• Spanish

Question 11

Why was Drake’s circumnavigation an achievement? (3 reasons)

Answer 11

• He was the second man in history to do it
• He was the first Englishman to achieve it
• He got £400,000 in treasure, half of which went to Elizabeth which was more than her entire income for a year.

Question 12

Why was King Phillip hostile to Elizabeth and England?

Answer 12

• Elizabeth rejected marrying him
• He was a devout catholic so saw Elizabeth as a heretic
• English Privateers stole from Spanish ships

Question 13

What was the Spanish Netherlands?

Answer 13

A protestant country controlled by Spain which had strong trading links with England.

Question 14

What was England’s role in the war between Spain and the Spanish Netherlands?

Answer 14

In 1885 England sent 7,000 troops under Robert Dudley’s command to support Dutch rebels. England and Spain were now at war.

Question 15

When did the Armada leave?

Answer 15

May 1588

Question 16

How did the Spanish contribute to the defeat of the Spanish?

Answer 16

• The Duke of Medina Sedonia who lead the armada was inexperienced and made poor decisions.
• Medina Sedonia was not in communication with the Duke of Parma, so could not reach the troops waiting in the Netherlands and launch a full scale invasion.

Question 17

What role did the English play in the Spanish Armada’s defeat?

Answer 17

• Experienced sea-men such as Lord Howard Francis Drake were in charge and used good tactics (e.g. hit and run)
• The English ships stayed out of range of the Spanish, who had much shorter range cannons.

Question 18

What role did luck play in the defeat of the Armada?

Answer 18

The wind changed direction and blew the Armada up the North Sea, making it impossible to meet up with Parma in the Netherlands.