Drake’s Circumnavigation

• Lateen


  Triangular sail helping ships sail faster
• Rutter


  Notebooks used by sailors filled with details about water depth, dangers etc.
• Astrolabe


  A new navigation system to help sailors work out where they are at sea
• San Juan de Ulua 


  The Spanish port in Mexico where Drake and Hawkins were attacked by Spain
• Strait of Anian


  The name for the passage linking the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans
• Golden Hind


  Drake’s ship that survives the full circumnavigation and he was knighted on it
• Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion


  Unarmed Spanish ship that Drake raided and stole over £480 million worth of treasure
• Nombre de Dios


  Spanish port in Panama that Drake raided with French Privateers
• How was Drake viewed by the Spanish?

  • Was known as a pirate and heretic.
  • People thought he had supernatural powers.
  • Intimidated by him.
  • Seen as a devil - not good for a Catholic.
• How was Drake viewed by the English public?

  • Seen as heroic and was looked up to
  • Inspired many people.
  • Enthusiastically joined in celebrations upon his return.
• How was Drake viewed by the nobility?

  • Disliked him because he grew up in a low status family.
  • Knighthood not approved by all.
  • Distrusted - believed he made up the maps of the islands of the Southern Ocean.
• Hawkins before 1570


  Sailed with his cousin Drake on many voyages and captured 300 slaves which he then traded to the Spanish for leather, sugar, ginger and pearls.
• Drake before 1570


  Worked with Hawkins on the voyages to West Africa and captures 300 slaves.
• Elizabeth‘s relationship with Hawkins and Drake

  Good relationship - donated a large ship for their expedition and gave a more organised and better fleet.

  However, she kept this secret.
• 1562 - actions is Sierra Leone and Caribbean


  • Captured 300 enslaved people owned by the Portuguese.
  • Sailed to Spanish colonies in the Caribbean for a profit.
  • Hawkins threatened with violence if the colonists didn’t buy.
  • Hawkins exchanged the slaves for leather, sugar, ginger and pearls.
  • The English slave trade had begun.
• Anchoring in the Spanish port of San Juan de Ulua


  • Drake went there to resupply and make repairs to ships damaged in a storm
  • Despite having a negotiated truce, they were attacked by Spanish warships
  • Only 2 out of 7 English ships escaped.
• English change to Piracy

  • Due to losses made during voyages and deterioration of Anglo-Spanish relation, they switched to raiding Spanish colonies and piracy.
  • Drake and Hawkins wanted revenge on the Spanish for San Juan de Ulua
• 1572 - Drake’s attack in Panama


  • Drake knew that ships loaded with gold and silver left the port of Nombre de Dios to return to Spain.
  • Raided the town and shipping in the area for several months with French Privateers.
  • Seizes tons of gold
  • Met Diego - taken as a crew member.
• Drake’s relationship with Diego


  • An African who had been enslaved by the Spanish.
  • Wanted to work with Drake - because he heard that England was a ‘free land’ (Slavery not legal on English soil).
  • Taken as a crew member.
  • Local knowledge and connections with Cimarrons proved invaluable.
  • Contacts and language skills helped Drake work with the Cimarrons against the Spanish, capturing silver and gold.
  • Returned to England with Drake in August 1573.
• Drake’s relationship with the Cimarrons


  • They were former enslaved African people who had escaped from their Spanish captors and were leading independent lives in their own settlements.
  • Expert scouts who knew the local terrain and were good fighters.
  • Worked with Drake and Diego.
• 1573 - Truce and Elizabeth’s thoughts


  • Due to a temporary truce with King Phillip II of Spain, little was said officially about Drake’s success.
  • However, it made investors, including Queen Elizabeth, eager to finance another expedition to the Americas.
• Drake’s aim during his circumnavigation

  Explore the coasts of Southern South America, sail through the Straits of Magellan and up the Pacific coast to investigate trading, conquest and settlement opportunities in Spanish areas.
• Why had Drake/England not wanted to upset Spain before his expedition?

  For the sake of international relations
• Why was Drake/England later happy to upset Spain?


  As Spain were pursuing an aggressive policy in the Netherlands, which was disapproved by the Queen. So, Elizabeth thought that they could upset them.
• Why did Drake want the Strait of Anian?


  As it would have speed up the time to travel between East Asia and Northern Europe (to trade spices and silks)
• Who supported and funded the voyage?

  • Drake‘s cousins (Hawkins brothers)
  • Members of the Privy Council:
  • Earl of Leicester (Robert Dudley)
  • Francis Walsingham
  • Christopher Hatton
• Why could open royal support not be given to Drake?

  Due to the delicate state of Anglo-Spanish relations. Investors also needed to keep their plans secret form William Cecil, who was anxious to prevent any open breach with spain. So they told them they were going to Egypt.
• Where were Drakes crew told they were going on their circumnavigation?

  • Egypt to collect a cargo of dried fruit, which was not well received.
  • Complained bitterly that he would never have gone on the voyage if he knew he was going to the Mid-Atlantic.
• How many ships and sailors made up the start of the voyage?

  3 ships, 2 supply ships and a total of 150 sailors.
• What did Drake do in Cape Verde?

  • Captured a Portuguese merchant ship (Santa Maria) and took valuable maps, a rutter, and an astrolabe.
  • Also captured the ships captain for knowledge of navigation.
• What problems did Drake run into early on in his voyage?

  • His fleet was scattered by storms off the coast of Brazil.
  • Sinked 1 ship (Swan) and abandoned another (Christopher).
  • Drake’s crew relationship became strained.
  • Thomas Doughty questioned Drake’s authority, which he was then accused of mutiny and treason.
  • Drake beheaded Thomas Doughty.
• What happened as Drake passed through the Strait of Magellan?

  • The ships were blown off course.
  • However, he discovered a passage, which he renamed ’Drake’s passage’ which we still use now.
• What happened when Drake reached the Pacific coast?

  • He had only 1 ship left.
  • Attacked Spanish ports and towns which were defenceless.
  • Captured Spanish ships - gained more accurate navigation charts and Silver.
• How did Drake gain £480 million of gold and silver?


  • Drake attacked a Spanish treasure ship which was defenceless compared to Drake.
  • They surrendered.
  • He found chests of treasure, Jewels, gold and silver.
  • It took 6 days to transfer it all onto his ship.
• What was Drake’s treatment of people during his voyage?

  • Showed courtesy to his prisoners of high rank and, after dining with the captured ship’s officers, he put them ashore, giving each a gift and a letter of safe conduct.
  • However, an enslaved woman (Maria) was taken from a Spanish ship, which he intercepted off the coast of Guatemala.
  • She was sexually abused by the crew and became pregnant. Drake then abandoned her, heavily pregnant, on a small island in Indonesia.
• What did Drake do in California?

  • Found the protected natural harbour which he had been looking for. Claims it for Elizabeth.
  • Britain don't end up doing anything about it.
  • He named it ‘Nova Albion’.
• What did Drake do on his way home from his voyage?

  • Bought 6 tons of cloves in the Maluku islands.
  • They were welcomed by the local ruler (wanted to sell spices to the English merchants).
• Drake’s return to England

  • Returned to Plymouth on the 26th September 1580.
  • 59 remaining crew members and immensely valuable cargo of treasure and spices returned too.
• What did Drake believe Elizabeth‘s response was to his voyage?

  He was told that the Queen was embarrassed and that the Spanish ambassador was asking for compensation and the return of Spanish property.
• What happened during Drake’s meeting with Elizabeth after his voyage?

  He brought he samples of the treasure as a gift and (with a private audience) he explained his 3 year journey and gave his maps and handbooks to her.