The History of England 300 Trade and Exploration
Oct 18, 2020
A deep-dive into Elizabethan trade routes and England's push into Atlantic markets. The episode traces early ventures to West Africa and the rise of English-African contact. It follows John Hawkins' controversial 1560s voyages, the 1568 San Juan de Ulúa clash, and the shift from trading voyages to Caribbean privateering.
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Why The Atlantic Beat The East For Early English Trade
- England's Atlantic trade looked more attractive than eastern routes due to heavy competition from established traders and Ottoman markets.
- The Levant and Muscovy companies show England experimented with joint-stock and ambassadorial ties before prioritising Atlantic opportunities.
Elizabeth Rejected Papal Monopoly Over New Worlds
- Portugal protested English incursions as violations of papal divisions of the world, but Elizabeth rejected exclusive discovery claims and argued discovery alone didn't create ownership.
- England used this stance to justify trading where European control was minimal.
How Law Turned Piracy Into Profit
- Early modern maritime law blurred state and private violence through letters of reprisal and proclamations to seize enemy shipping.
- Captains, crews and admirals all profited from captured prizes, creating strong incentives for sanctioned plunder.
