Imperial ambition, exploration and naval power
In the middle ages, travel was rare. However people still left their countries if they had to, whether it was for work, for war or for pilgrimage; and as sea travel was often dangerous, when people did travel, they went overland.
Luxuries like spices and silk were imported to England from China and India by overland trade routes, which meant that supply relied on foreign merchants.
Then, in the 15th century came the first long sea voyages. These were made possible by:
- new navigational instruments like the compass
- fast, light ships that could be manoeuvred to catch the wind
- the invention of guns
Kings and merchants encouraged these voyages because they wanted a more reliable source of luxury goods 鈥 and to find gold. Spain developed colonies in Central and South America (the 'New World') and the gold they found there made Spain very rich.
Why did Elizabeth encourage exploration?
There were four main reasons for Elizabeth to encourage adventurers.
Naval power: As England is on an island, a powerful navy would be a good defence
Empire: Spain's wealth from the New World meant that Elizabeth was keen for overseas territory.
Weakening Spain: Spain was a threat - Elizabeth feared they would get rid of her and replace her with a Catholic. Attacking Spain - and reducing its wealth - would reduce the threat.
Trade: In the 1550s, the cloth trade - England's main trade for centuries - collapsed. Merchants needed new markets for their goods, and new goods to sell. They wanted a sea route to India or China, so they didn't have to rely on overland merchants.
How successful were the adventurers?
Trade
Elizabethan adventurers made a huge difference to English trade. They discovered sea routes and opened up new markets - trading English produce for luxuries. Several new trading companies were formed:
| Company | Founded | Traded with | Traded |
| Muscovy Company | 1555 | Russia | Furs and timber |
| Eastland Company | 1581 | Baltic | Timber, tar, canvas |
| Levant Company | 1581 | Eastern Mediterranean | Dyes, dried fruit, wine, silk |
| East India Company | 1600 | India and the Far East | Silk, cotton, spices, tea |
| Company | Muscovy Company |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1555 |
| Traded with | Russia |
| Traded | Furs and timber |
| Company | Eastland Company |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1581 |
| Traded with | Baltic |
| Traded | Timber, tar, canvas |
| Company | Levant Company |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1581 |
| Traded with | Eastern Mediterranean |
| Traded | Dyes, dried fruit, wine, silk |
| Company | East India Company |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1600 |
| Traded with | India and the Far East |
| Traded | Silk, cotton, spices, tea |
This growth in trade boosted the English economy and made merchants - and lots of people who invested in the trading companies - very rich.
Colonies
The English made several attempts to establish overseas colonies during Elizabeth's reign, but none of them were successful. One of the notable attempts was Roanoke.
Naval power
The English navy grew, and English ships got better. English sailors become much better at sailing - and fighting - at sea. This didn't just improve trade and exploration - it was vital in defeating the attack by the Spanish Armada in 1588.
By the end of Elizabeth's reign, England was the greatest sea-power in the world 鈥 and it stayed that way until the 20th century.
Weakening Spain
Several English adventurers, notably Sir Francis Drake, were devout Protestants, and loathed the Spanish because they were Catholic. They took every opportunity to steal from them and attack their colonies. For example:
- 1572: Drake attacked Spanish ships loaded with silver from Peru and seized silver worth 拢20,000 - the equivalent of about 拢30 million today.
- 1578鈥79: Drake launched successful attacks on Spanish settlements and ships in the New World, bringing back gold, silver, jewels and silk, making a huge profit.
Elizabeth was always very pleased by this, of course!