circumnavigation

• Which years did Drakes circumnavigation take place in?

  1577 to 1580
• Which bit of land did Drake discover South of the Magellan Strait? Why was this significant?

  Tierra del Fuego, so that ships could sail between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at the bottom of South America (later known as the Cape Horn Route)
• Why did Drakes actions bring trouble with Spain?

  He was in command of an expedition that attacked Spanish shipping + ports.
• What was the consequence of Drakes circumnavigation regarding the Spanish? Which year was this key consequence in?

  Philip II sent the Spanish armada in 1588
• What was Drakes original plan for the expedition?

  Drake was to explore the Atlantic coast of Southern South America, through the Straits of Magellan and up the Pacific coast to investigate trading, conquest and settlement opportunities. He was then to return back the way he had came.
• How did Drake aim to make the trip pay for itself?

  By plundering the Spanish shipping.
• Why was Drake interested in the possibility of the Strait of Anian (a northwest sea passage)?

  The discovery of such a passage would greatly decrease the distance to travel to East Asia- a valuable place to tradevin spices and silks.
• Who were some of Drakes backers funding him for his trip?

  Drakes cousins- the Hawkins brothers, as well as important members of the Privy Council such as the Earl of Leicester, Sir Francis Walsingham and Sir Christopher Hatton. Queen Elizabeth but due to delicate anglo-spanish relations, the trip could not be funded that much by the nobility.
• Which ships did Drake have at the start of the voyage? (5 ships)

  The Pelican (later called the Golden Hind), the Elizabeth, the Marigold, the Benedict and the Swan.
• Which ship was exchanged for a large Spanish vessel which was renamed Christopher?

  The Benedict
• Which month, year and place did Drakes fleet set off on/from?

  November 1577 from Plymouth
• What happened soon after the ships set off?

  A storm forced then back for repairs, delaying their departure until mid December.
• What did Drake capture off the west coast of Africa and who did he meet? Why were both of these extremely helpful?

  Drake captured a Portugese merchant ship called the Santa Maria which he renamed Mary and Drake met the ships captain Nuno da Silva. The ship contained a valuable collection of maps, a rutter and an astrolabe and da Silva had considerable knowledge of navigation in the Americas as well as places Drake could land to find water etc.
• Why did the journey across the Atlantic go badly and when did the fleet reassemble?

  The fleet was scattered by storms off the coast of Brazil. Reassembled in May 1578.
• How was the fleet then streamlined after the storms off the coast of Brazil?

  Sunk the Swan and abandoned the Christopher.
• Who was murdered upon Drakes crew and why during the time they spent during the winter months waiting for weather to sail around Cape Horn?

  Thomas Doughty was beheaded in July 1578- the co-commander seemed to have questioned Drakes authority one too many times. Drake accused him of mutiny and treason.
• When and with which three ships did Drakes fleet set off south to pass through Magellans straight? Bonus: which ship did they leave behind and why??


  In August 1578 the Marigold, the Elizabeth and the recently renamed Golden Hind set off. Mary was left behind as its rotting timbers were beyond repair.
• How long did passing through Magellans straight take?

  Only 16 days!
• What happened after Drake and his crew entered the Pacific Ocean? What discovery did this result in?

  Upon entry to the Pacific, they faced fierce storms and the Golden Hind was blown far south into a vast expanse of ocean. This resulted in a discovery by Europeans of a wild channel between Cape Horn and Antarctica which is called the Drake passage to this day.
• Which ship was lost in the Pacific storms along with its captain?

  The Marigold
• Which ship was forced to return home after being badly damaged in the Pacific?

  The Elizabeth was so badly damaged in the storns that her crew begged her captain to give up.
• Which was the only ship to remain for Drake and what did that ship do along the Pacific?

  Only the Golden Hind remained and it proceeded to loot defenseless Spanish settlements that believed they were in too remote a location to be looted.
• What is an example of a raid that did not go to plan?

  At Mocha Island the landing party was attacked my indigenous Mapuche people who had long been resisting Spanish attacks. Here Diego and Drake were both wounded.
• On a lightning raid of where did Drake learn what Spanish treasure ship had just set sail for Panama?

  A lighting raid on Callao revealed that the Nuestra Señora de la Concepción had set sail for Panama.
• How much gold and silver did Drake acquire from the Nuestra Señora de la Concepción?

  £480 million in todays money.
• Who was an example of Drake not being courteous to the people he encountered on his voyages?

  Maria was sn enslaved woman whi was sexually abused by the crew and became pregnant. Drake then abandoned her heavily pregnant on a small heavily wooded island in Indonesia. This was in December 1579.
• What did Drake do before setting off for home?

  Drake needed to re-provision the Hind before any long journey home so after taking more maps etc from yet another Spanish ship with useful info for getting to the Phillippines.
• What passage may Drake have searched for before setting off towards Asia?

  The Strait of Anian- it would have been a much quicker way to safely return his loot than risking a hige trip across the globe. He had to stop because conditions became too cold.
• Where did Drake then travel south to before leaving for Asia? When?

  In June 1579 Drake found the orotected harbour he was looking for in northern California. He met the Miwok people there which was a friendly encounter and also named area Nova Albion and claimed it for the Queen.
• When did Drake set sail for Asia?

  July 1579
• How many tonnes of which spice did Drake buy in the Maluku Islands on his return home?

  6 tonnes of cloves.
• When did Drake return to Plymouth?


  September 1580
• How much money did Drakes Backers make for every £1 they invested?

  £47
• How many crew either left Drake or were lost at sea?

  100
• What was Drakes motto after he became one of the Richest men in England? (Sic Parva Magna)

  Great things from small beginnings.
• What did Elizabeth do when Knighting Drake to try and shift some of the Blame??

  She gave the sword to the French Ambassador to include France in the insult against Spain and to distance herself from the pirate.
• The nobility didn't accept him and saw him as the what?

  "The pirate lord"
• What Title did Drake adopt after his return to England?

  The Mayor of Plymouth
• What was a long term benefit of Elizabethan power when it comes to Englands Status?

  Elizabethan Exploration was the foundation upon which Britain's later position as a global superpower was built.
• What was a Military benefit of Elizabethan Exploration?

  Led to a powerful navy which dominated the seas until the 20th century.