Francis Drake Sails Around the World

Epic History
9 Feb 201812:08
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn the late 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I supported English pirates to rival Catholic Spain's wealth. Francis Drake, entrusted with a secret mission, embarked on a daring voyage to raid the Spanish Pacific coast. After capturing Spanish ships and enduring storms, Drake plundered Valparaíso and seized a treasure ship, amassing a fortune. He circumnavigated the globe, claimed land for England, and returned a hero, knighted by the Queen. His voyage marked the first Englishman to sail around the world and set the stage for England's naval legacy.

Takeaways
  • 🏴‍☠️ Francis Drake was an English pirate and privateer who conducted raids against the Spanish Empire in the New World, with the secret support of Queen Elizabeth I.
  • 🌊 Drake's ambition was to be the first Englishman to sail the Pacific Ocean, which he achieved after a perilous journey around South America's Cape Horn.
  • 🔍 During his voyage, Drake captured several Spanish and Portuguese ships, gaining valuable knowledge of the South American coast from a captured Portuguese navigator.
  • ❄️ Drake wintered at Puerto San Julian, the same place where Magellan had wintered 58 years prior, and where Drake also executed a mutinous officer.
  • 🚢 After a series of storms, Drake renamed his flagship from the Pelican to the Golden Hind, in honor of one of the expedition's sponsors, Sir Christopher Hatton.
  • 💰 Drake's most significant heist was the capture of the Spanish treasure ship Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, which yielded a fortune in gold, silver, and jewels.
  • 🌍 Drake's circumnavigation of the globe was a first for an Englishman and marked a significant achievement in maritime history.
  • 🇪🇸 Drake's raids on the Spanish Pacific coast were particularly successful due to the lack of preparedness and defenses in the region.
  • 🌟 Queen Elizabeth I profited from Drake's voyage and knighted him the following year, recognizing his contributions to England's naval prowess.
  • 🛳️ The Golden Hind faced numerous challenges, including a near-disastrous reef encounter in the Philippines, but ultimately returned to England laden with riches.
  • 📚 The script promotes The Great Courses Plus, suggesting that for those interested in history and exploration, there are many courses available to delve deeper into such topics.
Q & A

  • What was the relationship between Protestant England under Queen Elizabeth and Catholic Spain under Philip II in the 1560s and '70s?

    -Protestant England under Queen Elizabeth was a bitter rival of Catholic Spain under Philip II. Although they were not technically at war, Elizabeth secretly supported English pirates and smugglers to raid Spanish ships and settlements.

  • Who was Francis Drake and what was his role in the conflict between England and Spain?

    -Francis Drake was an English pirate and explorer who played a significant role in the conflict between England and Spain. He conducted several voyages to Spain's New World empire, where he engaged in slave trading, raiding ships, and settlements. He was also entrusted by Queen Elizabeth with a secret mission to raid the Spanish empire's Pacific coast.

  • What was the significance of Francis Drake's voyage in 1577?

    -Francis Drake's voyage in 1577 was significant because it marked his attempt to become the first Englishman to sail the Pacific Ocean and raid the Spanish empire's Pacific coast, which was virtually unguarded and had received no warning of his approach.

  • Why did Drake rename his flagship from the Pelican to the Golden Hind?

    -Drake renamed his flagship from the Pelican to the Golden Hind as a tribute to Sir Christopher Hatton, one of the expedition's sponsors, and his coat of arms.

  • What happened to the ship Marigold during Drake's voyage?

    -The ship Marigold was lost with all hands during Drake's voyage due to the 52 days of hurricane winds and mountainous seas they encountered in the Pacific.

  • What was the outcome of Drake's encounter with the Spanish treasure ship Nuestra Señora de la Concepción?

    -Drake's encounter with the Spanish treasure ship Nuestra Señora de la Concepción resulted in a significant haul for the English. They found 36 kilos of gold, 26 tons of silver, 13 chests of silver coin, jewels, and a golden crucifix, which is worth around 60 million dollars today.

  • How did Drake's men perceive the local Miwok native Americans when they arrived in California?

    -Drake's men perceived the local Miwok native Americans as welcoming them as gods, although it's possible that the Miwok saw them as ancient spirits returned from the dead due to their pale faces.

  • What was the estimated return on investment for the investors in Drake's voyage?

    -The estimated return on investment for the investors in Drake's voyage was an astounding four thousand six hundred per cent.

  • Why was Drake knighted by Queen Elizabeth the following year after his voyage?

    -Drake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth the following year after his voyage due to the immense success and wealth he brought back, which also profited the Queen herself.

  • What was the significance of Drake's voyage in the context of human exploration?

    -Drake's voyage was significant in the context of human exploration as it made him the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe, contributing to the story of human exploration that goes back into prehistory.

  • How did The Great Courses Plus relate to the video script about Drake's voyage?

    -The Great Courses Plus is related to the video script as it is the sponsor of the video and offers a course titled 'History's Greatest Voyages of Exploration' which could provide more detailed insights into Drake's voyage and similar historical expeditions.

Outlines
00:00
🏴‍☠️ Francis Drake's Secret Mission to Challenge Spanish Power

In the late 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I's Protestant England was in a tense rivalry with Philip II's Catholic Spain. The English monarchy, driven by envy of Spain's New World wealth, covertly backed pirates like Francis Drake. Drake, who had previously engaged in slave trading and raids in Spanish territories, was entrusted with a secret mission to raid the Spanish Pacific coast in 1577. With a fleet of five ships, Drake embarked on a perilous journey, capturing Spanish and Portuguese vessels along the way. He reached Brazil and, after a challenging passage, wintered at Puerto San Julian, where he also executed a mutinous officer. Drake continued south, renaming his flagship the Golden Hind, and became the first Englishman to enter the Pacific, where he faced severe storms and lost two of his ships.

05:04
💰 Drake's Pacific Plundering and the Capture of the Concepción

Francis Drake's expedition continued with a series of successful raids along the Spanish Pacific coast. He plundered the port of Valparaíso, seized silver at Arica, and looted the harbor at El Callao. Drake's most significant prize came when he learned of the treasure ship Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, which he pursued and captured off the coast of Ecuador. The haul from this ship alone was immense, containing gold, silver, jewels, and a golden crucifix, valued today at approximately 60 million dollars. Drake then sailed north, stopping at various locations for supplies, and eventually reached California, where he claimed the land for Queen Elizabeth as Nova Albion. After a series of adventures, including a near-fatal reef encounter, Drake set sail for the Spice Islands, adding cloves to his already valuable cargo.

10:09
🌏 Drake's Circumnavigation and Legacy as England's Naval Hero

Sir Francis Drake's voyage concluded with a daring circumnavigation of the globe. After a miraculous escape from a reef in the Philippines, Drake navigated through the Indonesian archipelago and across the Indian Ocean. He rounded the Cape of Good Hope and reached Plymouth in 1580 with a fortune in gold, silver, and spices, yielding an extraordinary return on investment for the voyage's backers. Queen Elizabeth knighted Drake the following year, cementing his status as one of England's greatest naval heroes. The video script also promotes The Great Courses Plus, an educational service featuring a wide range of history courses, including one on history's greatest explorations, and acknowledges Patreon supporters and collaborators at Simple History.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Protestant England
Protestant England refers to the period in English history when the country adopted Protestantism as its state religion, breaking away from the Catholic Church. In the script, it is mentioned as the backdrop for the rivalry between Queen Elizabeth's England and Philip II's Catholic Spain, highlighting the religious and political tensions of the era.
💡Philip II
Philip II was the King of Spain who ruled over a vast empire during the 16th century. The script describes him as the ruler of a New World empire that amassed great wealth, which was a source of envy for Protestant England and a driving force behind the conflict and competition between the two nations.
💡Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake was an English sea captain, privateer, and explorer. The script highlights his role as one of the key figures in English maritime exploits against Spain, including his daring raids on Spanish territories and his historic circumnavigation of the globe.
💡New World
The term 'New World' is used to describe the Americas, particularly in the context of European exploration and colonization. In the script, it refers to the territories in the Americas that were under Spanish control and were a source of immense wealth, which attracted the attention and envy of other European powers like England.
💡Piracy
Piracy, as depicted in the script, refers to the act of attacking or robbing ships at sea. Queen Elizabeth is said to have secretly supported English pirates and smugglers, like Drake, to undermine the Spanish economy and assert England's maritime power.
💡Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's oceanic divisions. In the script, Drake's dream of being the first Englishman to sail the Pacific Ocean is a central theme, illustrating his ambition and the significance of his voyages in exploring and establishing new sea routes.
💡Magellan Strait
The Magellan Strait, also known as the Strait of Magellan, is a navigable sea passage in southern Chile. The script mentions Drake's passage through the strait, which was named after Ferdinand Magellan, the first European explorer to sail around the southern tip of South America.
💡Golden Hind
The Golden Hind was the flagship of Sir Francis Drake, originally named the Pelican. The script describes how Drake renamed his ship as a tribute to Sir Christopher Hatton, one of the expedition's sponsors, and it became the vessel that carried him on his circumnavigation and raids against the Spanish.
💡Circumnavigation
Circumnavigation refers to the act of traveling completely around something, in this case, the Earth. The script emphasizes Drake's achievement as the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe, which was a monumental feat in the history of exploration.
💡Spanish Armada
The Spanish Armada was a large fleet of ships assembled by King Philip II of Spain in 1588 to invade England. The script mentions Drake's later role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada, which further solidified his status as a national hero in England.
💡The Great Courses Plus
The Great Courses Plus is an educational media company offering video lectures from专家学者. The script promotes this service as a way for viewers to delve deeper into history, including the story of exploration and other topics, with a specific mention of a course on 'History's Greatest Voyages of Exploration'.
Highlights

In the 1560s and '70s, Protestant England under Queen Elizabeth was a rival of Catholic Spain led by Philip II.

Philip II's New World empire produced vast wealth in gold and silver, causing envy in England.

Queen Elizabeth secretly supported English pirates and smugglers to raid Spanish territories.

Francis Drake was a prominent English pirate who raided Spanish ships and settlements.

Drake's ambition was to be the first Englishman to sail the Pacific Ocean.

In 1577, Queen Elizabeth entrusted Drake with a secret mission to raid the Spanish Pacific coast.

Drake's fleet captured several Spanish and Portuguese ships on their way to the New World.

Drake reached the coast of Brazil and decided to wait out winter storms at Puerto San Julian.

Drake's crew found remains of men executed by Magellan for mutiny at Puerto San Julian.

Drake executed his officer Thomas Doughty for attempting to sabotage the expedition.

Drake renamed his flagship the Pelican to the Golden Hind in tribute to Sir Christopher Hatton.

Drake and his men became the first Englishmen to reach the Pacific in September.

Drake's expedition faced 52 days of hurricane winds and mountainous seas in the Pacific.

The Golden Hind was the only ship left after the loss of the Marigold and the retreat of the Elizabeth.

Drake discovered an open sea route around the tip of America, later named after him.

Drake's raid on the Spanish port of Valparaíso resulted in the capture of Chilean gold and wine.

At Arica, Drake seized 40 bars of silver, marking the start of a significant robbing spree.

Drake pursued and captured the Spanish treasure ship Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, acquiring immense wealth.

The Golden Hind used Peruvian silver as ballast while continuing up the Pacific coast.

Drake named California as Nova Albion and claimed it for Queen Elizabeth.

Drake's men were mistaken for gods or ancient spirits by the local Miwok native Americans.

The Golden Hind hit a reef but was miraculously freed after 20 hours, allowing them to continue their journey.

Drake's voyage resulted in a 4,600% return for investors, including Queen Elizabeth.

Drake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth the following year after his successful voyage.

Drake's circumnavigation of the globe made him one of England's greatest naval heroes.

The Great Courses Plus offers an on-demand video subscription service with over 70 history courses.

The course 'History's Greatest Voyages of Exploration' is part of The Great Courses Plus.

Transcripts

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Francis DrakeCircumnavigationExploration HistoryEnglish PiratesSpanish EmpireGolden HindPacific ExpeditionHistorical AdventureNautical HeroMaritime Raids