Part 2 - Life in Elizabethan times -English Sailors

Question 1

When did Drake’s circumnavigation happen?

Answer 1

• between 1577 and 1580

Question 2

What was the age of discovery?

Answer 2

• elizabethan era time of great discovery and exploration for many European countries
• england, keen to keep up with Spain, began to seek out new lands and trade oportunities
• in 1577 - Sir Francis Drake set off from Plymouth on one of the greatest voyages of the era

Question 3

Who was Sir Francis Drake?

Answer 3

• drake was a privateer famous for his attacks on Spanish ships and Spanish ports, but also for his involvement in the slave trade
• both of these factors made Drake - Elizabeth - and many other English nobles very wealthy

Question 4

What technology played a vital role in the circumnavigation?

Answer 4

• higher-quality, stronger and faster ships with new lateen sails - better defensive weapons made sailing through hostile waters safer
• astrolabe allowed for much more accurate navigation

Question 5

What happened when Drake returned?

Answer 5

• drake made a huge amount from his investments - half of money went to the queen
• improved Englands financial situation - built new opportunities for trade around the world
• used as propoganda to show that England was important and powerful country - able to compete with spain

Question 6

What was the significance of the trade with Asia?

Answer 6

• companies began to establish with purpose of trading in particular areas
• muscovy company created in 1555 - given monopoly of trade with city of Moscow in Russia - meant that no other company could trade in this area
• 1582 QE sent Ralph Fitch to India and southeast asia - returned with knowledge that profitable trade possible
• east india company was established in 1600 to oversee this trade
• companies brought products to England rarely seen before e.g. spices and silk

Question 7

What was the human trade?

Answer 7

• 1652 - john hawkins new opportunity to make greater fortune - breaking into portugese monopoly in trading enslaved Africans
• on raiding trip to west africa - hawkins captured 300 africans enslaved by portugese
• took them to caribbean + traded them for goods
• 1564 hawkins took larger fleet back to west africa - enslaved 400 africans

Question 8

Sir Walter Raleigh and new world?

Answer 8

• given royal permission to explore americas in 1584
• allowed to colonise any land not ruled by a christian
• he would have to give 1/5 of gold and silver he found to queen
• did not sail himself - sent others to explore and establish countries

Question 9

What happened at roanoke

Answer 9

• first colony established in new world at roanoke on east coast of africa - did not last
• second created in 1587 - seemed like it would succeed
• colonies leader john white returned from trip to england - found all colonists gone and worwd coroatoan carved into tree

Question 10

Impact of voyages on wealth

Answer 10

• raiding spanish ships and ports allowed riches to be stolen and brought back to england
• trading systems established from which englands wealth grew - new products like spice, silks and porcelain
• trade with east in spices/other goods as middlemen could now be cut out - english sailors could deal directly with merchants in asia
• levant company established in 1592 to regulate trade in turkey and middle east
• trade in africans brought immense wealth to england as a whole

Question 11

Impact of voyages on power?

Answer 11

• naval power growing under elizabeth - able to hold its own in any battle
• able to exert influence over weaker countries