Drake paragraphs

• Cause 1:

  A key motivator for the circumnavigation was the possibility to gain new knowledge. During this period of exploration, many maps were unfinished or incorrect and the journey would have given Drake the opportunity to chart some of the first English maps to areas in South America. Drake an adventurer had been on 3 previous voyages with Hawkins to the Americas and saw how lucrative they were not just in terms of riches and treasure but also in gaining more knowledge of trading routes. Drake planned to explore the Pacific coast to investigate trading and settlement opportunities.
• Cause 1:

  By 1570, new areas of opportunity opened up in South America – in particular Brazil and Peru where there was a prospect of trade with Spanish colonies, a market for English cloth, areas for settlement and a chance to seize defenceless trading ships and their cargoes. This opportunity to gain knowledge of areas of new land for settlements would have been a great incentive for not just Drake but also his wealthy backers to boost national pride. Furthermore, Drake like many sailors of the time was intrigued by the possibility of a Northwest Sea passage.
• Cause 1:

  This would link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the mythical ‘Strait of Anian’ if found it would speed up travel times between East Asia (a valuable place to trade in silks and spices) and Northern Europe. However, it is important to remember that the voyage was shrouded in secrecy, and it is reported that only Drake and Elizabeth knew about the true nature of the journey.
• Cause 1: to gain new knowledge
• Cause 2: to find new routes
• Cause 2:

  An important reason why Drake embarked on his voyage of discovery was to find new routes. Drake, like many sailors at the time, was convinced there was a Northwest sea passage that linked the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. This was known as the Strait of Anian. In 1576, and English sailor, Martin Frobisher claimed to have found it. Such a connection between the Atlantic and Pacific would speed up the time taken to travel between East Asia – a valuable place for the trade of spices, and silks, and northern Europe.
• Cause 2:

  This would have been a key motivator for Drake as if he was able to find this passage, he could work to establish control of the

  area and allow a monopoly of English control. Moreover, voyages throughout different parts of the world became more widely recorded, with routes being mapped in more accurate detail using new technology such as rutters. The role of the printing press meant that maps recording navigational journeys could be mass produced as well and information was being spread
• Cause 2:

  This would have a source of great encouragement for Drake to take be able to have some idea of a circumnavigation building on the routes of others. Previously, maps had been hand drawn which meant they were sometimes unreliable and therefore would probably not have allowed for the possibility of circumnavigation for Drake.
• Cause 3: to gain revenge on the Spanish
• Cause 3:

  A key reason why Drake embarked on his circumnavigation was to challenge and gain revenge on the Spanish. Throughout Elizabeth’s reign, the relationship between England and Spain was fuelled by tension and suspicious surrounding religion, piracy and power. This culminated in a full conflict with the Spanish Armada in 1588. King Philip II had established a monopoly over trade and land through voyages wherever the Spanish flag flew throughout the world and as a result, made Spain the wealthiest country in the world in the mid -16th Century.
• Cause 3:

  The wealth and land settlements acquired by the Spanish would have been a key reason for Drake to embark on his circumnavigation but also why Elizabeth secretly supported the voyage also. Elizabeth was aware of the wealth and power that could come of Drake being able to capture Spanish treasures and challenge King Phillip’s powers. Moreover, in 1568 at San Juan de Ulua, the Spanish attacked Hawkins’ fleet leading to 5 of his boats being sunk. Only Drake and Hawkins’ ship escaped.
• Cause 3:

  This led to a desire for revenge by both Drake and Hawkins and an increase in raids on Spanish colonies and piracy. In 1572, Drake’s expedition to the Americas saw him raiding ships leaving the Spanish port of Nombre de Dios for several months. Due to the enormous wealth Drake brought back, Queen Elizabeth was eager to finance another expedition.
• Cause 3:

  Lastly, another key motivator for the circumnavigation is that Drake knew that Spanish shipping was vulnerable in South America, especially Peru and Brazil. He recognised that this could be the opportunity for him to amass great wealth without having to face the full forces of the Spanish navy. Overall, this motivator was personal, he was a ‘pushy pirate’ who took this prime chance to attack King Philip’s possessions further afield in The Americas, rather than in Europe.
• Cause 4: for wealth
• Cause 4:

  One of the most important motivating factors for the circumnavigation was the desire to amass wealth through voyages. Portugal and Spain had from the 15th century made a fortune from both the trade in enslaved people but also monopolising goods and resources in the Americas. Desire for goods like sugar, spices and cotton made the trade very lucrative and lots of European countries wanted their own share. John Hawkins made large sums from the trade in enslaved people, alongside the raiding of Spanish ports and cargo ships.
• Cause 4:

  For example, in 1572, Drake led his first major expedition to the Americas, helped by an enslaved African called Diego. Diego helped local relations and led to Drake capturing much Spanish gold and silver with help from a local tribe – the Cimarrons. It is clear from Drake’s secret plan that the aim was to hit the Spanish and harass them wherever and whenever Drake could as he always had. The fleet for the circumnavigation had 41 canons on board showing the true nature for piracy and gaining wealth.
• Cause 4:

  Such promises of wealth meant that Drake received the backing from important investors including members of the Privy Council: Earl of Leicester and Francis Walsingham as well as secretly Elizabeth I herself. Moreover, the opportunity that to target the less protected Spanish land in Brazil and Peru offered new trading opportunities and a chance to raid Spanish settlements and ships promising huge wealth would have been too tempting to miss.