Commercial rivalry

• • During Elizabeth’s reign, English merchants explored new markets and trading partners
  • Huge profits to be made in New World
• English merchnats faced problems:

  • Spain controlled Netherlands - Netherlands was England's main route into European trade, Antwerp important to English trade in Netherlands
  • Spain controlled alot of New World - New World had valuable and new trading opportunities
• • Spain controlled much of New World
  • Licence needed from Spain to trade in New World
  • Many English merchants traded illegally - some attacked Spanish ports and ships
  • Phillip could not ignore challenge to Spain’s interests in new World