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Drake and Circumnavigation - Coggle Diagram
Drake and Circumnavigation
Why were voyages of exploration made?
Private investment
Improvements in ship design
Adventure
New technology
The development of standardised maps
Trade
Expanding territory
Drake's journey
Dec 1577 - takes 5 ships to raid Spanish ports in the Americas
Jun/Jul 1578 - Drake responds to a rumour of mutiny by executing Thomas Doughty - former friend
Sept 1578 - Sails through the Straits of Magellan (first Englishman) and a storm destroys one ship and blows the others off course
The remaining ship sail up the coast and raid a number of Spanish ports
Jun 1579 - With only his ship remaining Drake lands in North America and claims it for Queen Elizabeth
Mar/Jun 1580 - He navigates dangerous Cape of Good Hope
26 Sept - Drake returns to Plymouth and is knighted on board his ship (the Golden Hind) by Q.E
Between 1577 and 1580
Drake a villain or hero and long/short term impacts of exploration during Q.E reign
Hero
Boosted England's reputation as a naval power
1577 Drake attacked Spain's colonies in the New World and returned with £400,000
Managed to halt Spanish Armada
Villain
During many voyages he stole cargo - some thought this was piracy
Phillip II considered him a pirate (hired as a privateer)
Burned churches, threatened priests to reveal hidden treasure
Short term
Increased hostility between Spain and England
Glory and riches for England - build image
Heroes of men and great wealth to sponsers
Long term
Foundation of Britain as a global superpower
Britain became enormously rich - trade links
Development of powerful navy
Establishment of colonies (grew into British Empire) - covered 1/4 of world's surface at peak
Background
England and Spain
Protestant enemy in 1534
England not powerful enough to take on Spain or Portugal directly in war - English merchants with French challenged Spain and its trade monopolies
Before Q.E reign - Portuguese capturing and enslaving African people + sugar and gold mining meant more labour for slaves
Drake and the Hawkins family
Drake lived with family from a young age
1562 - Hawkins stole 300 slaves in Sierra Leone (already captured by Portuguese), sailed to Spanish colonies and exchanged
1564 - 2nd voyage and Drake went too - raided African coast and took 400 slaves
Hawkins sometimes threatened violence if they did not buy
1566 - 3rd voyage and Drake went but not much profit
Drake and San Juan de Ulua 1568
Drake (captain) and Hawkins set sail for America's - instructions from queen - sell obtained 'cargo' of slaves in Carribean
Captured 500 and sold some captives with the Spanish colonies
Hawkins fleet suffered damage in a storm - attacked by Spanish warships after stopping to make repairs - D+H escaped
After this England switched to raiding Spanish colonies and piracy
Created a fierce hatred of the Spanish and the desire for revenge
Drake's early trips to the Americas
Planned to attack Panama in 1572 - raided town and shipping area for many months with French privateers
Met Diego - African who had been enslaved by the Spanish and wanted to work with Drake
Diego had local knowledge and connections
Diego's contacts and language skills helped Drake work with the Cimarrons against the Spnaish
Captured lots of gold and silver and returned in 1573
Made investors (incl. Q.E) want to finance another trip to the Americas
Why did Drake set sail on his voyage in 1577?
Rivalry with Spain
Drake and perhaps Elizabeth wanted to weaken Spain
Drake and Hawkins wanted revenge on Spain for San Juan de Ulua
Trade
Prospect of trade with Spanish colonies - potential market for cloth
New trade opportunities needed - war with Spain in Netherlands had damaged the wool and cloth trade
Drake wanted to investigate opportunities with Americas
Colonisation
Drake wanted to explore settlement opportunities in Americas
Personal gain for Drake
Made a fortune (£10,000) from expedition - one of richest men in country
Previously gained gold from robbing Spanish ships and colonies
Became a hero and legend amongst lower classes (mostly not accepted by elites)
Drake was knighted
Understanding of the world
Drake captured maps, rutters and astrolabes from conquering ships
Better maps (Mercator Map - 1569) meant trips were more likely to succeed
Drake and other sailors intrigued by idea of Northwest sea passage linking Atlantic and Pacific 'Strait of Anian'
Technological advancements
Ship design had improved - bigger sails, faster, better protected, stability - longer journeys possible
Better maps
Quadrants and astrolabes - navigation easier and longer journeys safer
Wealth for England/investors
Spain was very wealthy - potential for lots of gold
Drake bought back spices
Several high profile bankers for Drake's voyage - Walsingham, Earl of Leicester, Hatton