Drake's Circumnavigation

• what are the three types of questions that could come up

  • cause -> 'the main reason for elizabethan voyages was ...'
  • consequence -> 'the main result of elizabethan voyages was ...'
  • change -> 'the main change resulting from elizabethan voyages was ...'
• what are the three causes for elizabethan voyages

  • economic benefit
  • challenging spanish interests
  • enhancing drakes reputation
• what are the three consequences of elizabethan voyages

  • enhancing the explorer's popularity + power
  • worsening spanish relations
  • economic benefits
• what are the three changes from elizabethan voyages

  • tensions with spain
  • improved knowledge
  • colonial expansion
• what was the most important cause of elizabethan voyages

  economic benefits
• what was the most important consequence of elizabethan voyages

  economic benefits
• what was the most important change of elizabethan voyages

  improved knowledge
• when did drakes circumnavigation take place

  1577 - 1580
• why were economic benefits an important cause of elizabethan voyages

  • england experienced nationwide debt due to their involvement in warfare (netherlands + ireland in 1560's)
  • presented opportunities to expand englands trade networks + gained access to lucrative markets (strait of anion connects atlantic + pacific oceans leading to asia)
  • drake gained immense profits for himself (approx 60% from the cacafuego itself)
• why was challenging spanish interests an important cause of elizabethan voyages

  • challenging spanish hegemony at sea proved britains naval power to enable british exploration of colonialism in the new world (like roanoke + jamestown colony)
  • drake + hawkins had been attacked by spaniards in 1568 at san juan de ulua (caused animosity)
  • retaliation towards the spanish empire for pursuing aggressive policy against protestants in netherlands (circa 1560's)
• why was enhancing drakes reputation an important cause of elizabethan voyages

  • he wanted to transcend his modest rural origins to become part of the elite gentry class (knighted in 1581 upon the golden hind)
  • he wanted a strong position in court by impressing the queen to gain favour for future pursuits (undertook later exploits to caribbean with relative impunity)
  • drake became emblematic of britains naval power and instilled fear in spanish merchants + leaders ('el draque' or 'el corsario de la reina')
• why are economic benefits a more important cause than challenging spanish interests

  • disruptions to spains economy through challenging their monopoly over trade routes + wealth in the new world was the main way to challenge britains rivals
  • there would have been limited impact on spain had the circumnavigation not involved this form of hinderance
• why are economic benefits a more important cause than enhancing drake's reputation

  • without offering returns on investments from his backers, drakes reputation would have deteriorated instead
  • economic benefits contributed to the whole country rather than just one person
• why was drakes newfound power and popularity an important consequence of elizabethan voyages

  • drake transcended his modest rural origins to become part of the elite gentry class with his findings (knighted in 1581 upon the golden hind)
  • drake gained a strong position in court by impressing the queen to gain favour for future pursuits (became an MP + vice admiral)
  • worsened spanish tensions as they demonised drake('el draque' or 'el corsario de la reina') and the spanish ambassador protested
• why were economic benefits an important consequence of elizabethan voyages

  • new found wealth stimulated economic growth in england to form long term prosperity (financial infrastructure projects (e.g. navy) + supporting domestic industry(e.g. textile industry))
  • enrichments to englands trade portfolio + diversification of english economic base (through new trade routes + markets)
  • facilitated the establishment of englands major colonial power that continued to grow (confidence in implementing mercantilist policies to lower imports + grow exports)
• why are economic benefits a more important consequence than drakes newfound popularity and power

  • drake only grew popularity by returning investments to his backers or else his reputation would have simply deteriorated
  • his power was still heavily reliant on the queens trust in him, meaning his power did not hold as much importance as the money he gained from the trip, that he was free to use however he saw fit
• why are economic benefits a more important consequence than worsening spanish relations

  • worsening relations were exacerbated by the english challenge towards spanish trade monopolies
  • poor spanish relations had already fostered through conflicts between the catholic regime through spains aggressive policy in the netherlands so the tension would eventually culminate (regardless of the circumnavigation)
• why were tensions with spain an important change following elizabethan voyages

  • economic competition + colonial rivalries fuelled tensions further (1587 raid on caliz + raids on spanish settlements in caribbean)
  • deepened cultural animosity as negative stereotypes + perceptions + prejudice between the countries grew to fuel historical narrations of enmity (spanish writers described english as racially inferior + english portrayed spain as catholic tyrants)
  • spains protests + reprisals in response to the circumnavigation culminated (1588 spanish armada + 1585 anglo spanish war)
• why was improved knowledge an important change following elizabethan voyages

  • improved cartography as records in rutters showed previously uncharted regions to bypass traditional trade routes controlled by rivals + trade opportunities (strait of anion + magellan)
  • cross cultural exchange through meeting the indigenous allowed insight into foreign customs + lifestyles (understanding local geography + survival techniques proved advantageous in explorations)
  • documentation of foreign ecosystems provided valuable breakthroughs for scientists (knowledge on shape of earth + biodiversity)
• why was colonial expansion an important change following elizabethan voyages

  • revealed the potential for overseas expansion to acquire wealth + resources (participation in transatlantic slave trade + east india company)
  • grew in understanding of establishing colonies to secure trade routes to challenge dominance of others + protect maritime interests (using spains trade routes to access caribbean for plantations + privateering)
  • development of mercantilist policies (max exports + min imports) to raise colonial wealth + establish a global empire of trade to strengthen its mother countries economy
• why is improved knowledge a more important change than tensions with spain

  • worsening relations were exacerbated by the english challenge towards spanish trade monopolies following a further understanding of their trade routes + colonies
  • poor spanish relations had already fostered through conflicts between the catholic regime through spains aggressive policy in the netherlands so the tension would eventually culminate (regardless of the circumnavigation)
• why is improved knowledge a more important change than colonial expansion

  • colonial expansion was only built upon the foundations of the knowledge acquired + recorded during the voyage
  • improved knowledge of the success that could be gained for england from forming colonies is the leading cause of mercantilist policies being established to further colonial expansion