What Was European Trade in the New World Like in the 16th Century?

British Empire — Elizabethan Privateers

This course examines the role of English privateering in shaping imperial ambitions during the Elizabethan era. Key topics include: (i) the challenges to English access to the Americas and the rise of maritime ambitions under Queen Elizabeth I, leading to tensions with Spain; (ii) the contributions of figures like Hawkins and Drake, whose privateering in the Caribbean highlighted Spain's vulnerabilities; (iii) the growth of privateering in the 1570s-1580s, supported by Elizabeth I, and its link to English colonial expansion; (iv) the failure of the Roanoke colony as a privateering base; and (v) the lasting impact of privateering on England’s state policies, economy, and piracy culture.

What Was European Trade in the New World Like in the 16th Century?

In this lecture, we explore privateering and imperial expansion during the Elizabethan period, focusing on: (i) early European exploration and the Treaty of Tordesillas, which restricted English access to the Americas; (ii) the rise of English maritime ambitions under Queen Elizabeth I, leading to tensions with Spain; (iii) John Hawkins' profitable slaving voyages in the 1560s and their impact on English trade in the Caribbean; (iv) Francis Drake's involvement and the growing awareness of the vulnerability of Spanish colonies; and (v) the shift from slaving to privateering, as English sailors targeted Spanish treasure fleets and laid the foundation for future colonial ambitions.