GCSE History: The Elizabethan Age of Exploration

Summary

The Elizabethan Age of Exploration was driven by various factors, including the desire for trade, fame, adventure, and technological advancements. English merchants sought to capitalize on new markets in the Americas, while explorers like Sir John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake sought fortune, sometimes through the shameful practice of the transatlantic slave trade. Improved ship designs, navigation tools like the astrolabe, and better maps facilitated safer and more efficient voyages. Despite the lure of riches, the era was marked by danger and the exploitation of both resources and people.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Elizabethans explored the New World mainly due to trade opportunities, particularly to compete with Spain and Portugal for access to new markets.
• 😀 The discovery of North and South America opened up new trading possibilities, with the Elizabethans seeking valuable resources like gold, silver, and animal skins.
• 😀 Adventure, fame, and fortune attracted young men from the Elizabethan nobility to exploration, fueled by rumors of unknown lands and peoples.
• 😀 Technological advancements in ships and navigation, such as the use of the sun and stars for positioning, made exploration faster, safer, and more viable.
• 😀 Key navigational instruments like the astrolabe and quadrant, as well as improved maps, helped explorers plot more accurate courses.
• 😀 The transatlantic slave trade, also known as the triangular trade, played a dark role in the Elizabethan exploration, with figures like Sir John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake profiting from it.
• 😀 The triangular trade involved three key stages: trading goods in Africa for enslaved people, transporting them to the Americas, and bringing back valuable commodities like sugar, tobacco, and spices.
• 😀 Improved maps, like Mercator's projection, allowed for more accurate course plotting, making future voyages easier and more efficient.
• 😀 The design of Elizabethan ships, like the galleon, was optimized for better speed, maneuverability, stability, and firepower, allowing for longer and more successful voyages.
• 😀 Despite all the technological advancements, exploration remained dangerous, and even with better ships and navigational tools, the voyages still carried significant risks.

Q & A

Why did the Elizabethans explore the world during the Elizabethan Age?

The Elizabethans explored for multiple reasons, including trade, adventure, fame, and fortune. They sought new lands rich in resources like gold, silver, crops, and animal skins. The advancements in navigation and shipbuilding also made long voyages more possible and safer.

What role did trade play in Elizabethan exploration?

Trade was a major motivator for exploration. The discovery of the New World offered new trading opportunities, especially as English merchants sought to compete with Spain and Portugal. The decline in the wool trade with the Netherlands also spurred interest in finding new markets.

How did technological advancements contribute to exploration?

Technological advances in shipbuilding, navigation, and cartography made exploration more feasible. Innovations like better navigation instruments (astrolabes, quadrants), improved maps, and more stable, maneuverable ships helped make voyages safer and more efficient.

Who were some key figures involved in Elizabethan exploration?

Notable figures included Sir John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake, both of whom were involved in the transatlantic slave trade, which was part of the triangular trade system. They were also famous explorers and privateers who brought wealth and fame to England.

What was the Triangular Trade and how did it relate to exploration?

The Triangular Trade was a system in which European ships exchanged goods like guns and iron for enslaved Africans in West Africa, then transported these enslaved people to the Americas. They would then return to Europe with goods like sugar, tobacco, and spices, making the trade highly profitable.

What were the moral implications of the Elizabethan involvement in the Triangular Trade?

The moral implications were significant. While the trade brought wealth to England, it involved the inhuman trafficking and exploitation of millions of African people, leading to dislocation, suffering, and death.

How did the development of maps and cartography aid in exploration?

Maps and cartography played a crucial role in navigation. The introduction of Gerardus Mercator's projection in 1569 allowed for more accurate plotting of courses. Maps became more reliable, and the knowledge of previously explored routes made subsequent voyages easier and safer.

What were the key improvements in ship design during the Elizabethan era?

The key improvements included the development of the galleon, a faster and more maneuverable ship. Galleons combined traditional square sails for speed and triangular sails for better maneuverability. These ships were also more stable in heavy seas and had better firepower, crucial for defense and raiding.

What was the role of firepower in Elizabethan exploration?

Firepower, particularly cannons, played a vital role in Elizabethan exploration. Ships were equipped with powerful guns to defend against pirates and enemies, as well as to raid Spanish ships. This added a layer of protection and made long-distance voyages more feasible.

How did the improved ship designs affect the outcome of voyages?

The improved ship designs, particularly the galleons, allowed for longer voyages. These ships were faster, more stable, and better armed, making it easier to travel greater distances, defend against threats, and engage in profitable trade and exploration.