In the late 1500s, England and Spain were rivals. England, led by Queen Elizabeth, was Protestant, while Spain, ruled by King Philip II, was Catholic. Spain had a huge empire in the New World, rich with gold and silver, which made England quite envious. Although they weren’t officially at war, Queen Elizabeth secretly supported English pirates who wanted to take advantage of Spain’s wealth. One of these pirates was Francis Drake.
Francis Drake had already made several trips to the Spanish territories in the New World, where he raided ships and settlements. During one of his adventures in Panama, he climbed a tree and saw the Pacific Ocean, dreaming of being the first Englishman to sail it. His chance came in 1577 when Queen Elizabeth gave him a secret mission to raid the Spanish empire’s Pacific coast.
On December 13, Drake set sail with five ships and 164 men. Along the way, they captured several Spanish and Portuguese ships and even found a navigator to guide them. After a tough journey across the Atlantic, they reached Brazil and then moved south to Puerto San Julian, where they waited out the winter storms. Interestingly, this was the same place where the explorer Magellan had stopped 58 years earlier.
Drake faced many challenges, including dealing with a rebellious officer named Thomas Doughty, whom he executed for trying to sabotage the mission. With only three ships left, Drake continued through the Magellan Strait and reached the Pacific Ocean, becoming the first Englishmen to do so. However, they faced fierce storms, losing one ship and another returning home, leaving only the Golden Hind.
Drake’s crew tried to trade with local tribes on Mocha Island, but they were mistaken for Spaniards and attacked. Despite this, Drake reached the Spanish Pacific coast and began raiding ports and ships, collecting a massive amount of treasure. His most significant capture was the Spanish treasure ship, Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, which held gold, silver, and jewels worth millions today.
After gathering supplies in Huatulco, Drake sought a way back to the Atlantic, possibly sailing as far north as Vancouver Island. He landed in California, naming it Nova Albion and claiming it for England. Welcomed by the local Miwok Native Americans, Drake’s crew repaired the Golden Hind before setting off across the Pacific Ocean to complete their journey around the world.
Drake sailed across the Pacific, stopping in places like Palau, the Philippines, and the Spice Islands, where they collected valuable spices. After a close call with a reef, they continued through the Indonesian islands and across the Indian Ocean. By June, they rounded the Cape of Good Hope and finally returned to England on September 26, 1580, with only 59 crew members left.
Drake’s voyage was a huge success, bringing back a fortune for himself and his investors. Queen Elizabeth was so pleased that she knighted him aboard the Golden Hind. Drake became the first Englishman to sail around the world and later played a crucial role in defeating the Spanish Armada. His daring journey is a significant part of the history of exploration.
If you’re interested in learning more about history, consider exploring courses like “History’s Greatest Voyages of Exploration,” which offers fascinating insights into the adventures of explorers like Drake and Magellan. These courses are available on various devices, making it easy to learn wherever you are.
Research the key events of Francis Drake’s circumnavigation and create a timeline. Use dates and brief descriptions to highlight significant moments, such as the start of the journey, major battles, and the return to England. This will help you understand the sequence and impact of his voyage.
Using a world map, plot the route taken by Francis Drake during his journey around the world. Mark important locations like Puerto San Julian, the Magellan Strait, and Nova Albion. This activity will give you a visual understanding of the vast distances covered and the geographical challenges faced.
Divide into two groups and prepare arguments for a debate on whether Francis Drake should be considered a hero or a pirate. Use evidence from his actions during the voyage to support your position. This will help you analyze different perspectives on historical figures.
Imagine you are a crew member aboard the Golden Hind. Write a diary entry describing a day in your life during the voyage. Include details about the challenges faced, your feelings about the journey, and interactions with other crew members. This will help you empathize with historical experiences.
Create a poster that highlights Francis Drake’s accomplishments, such as his circumnavigation and role in defeating the Spanish Armada. Use images, quotes, and facts to make it informative and visually appealing. This will help you summarize and present historical information creatively.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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This is an Epic History TV / Simple History collaboration, supported by our sponsor, The Great Courses Plus. In the 1560s and ’70s, Protestant England, under Queen Elizabeth, was a rival of Philip II’s Catholic Spain. Philip ruled over a vast New World empire that produced a fortune in gold and silver for the Spanish treasury, which the English viewed with envy. Although England and Spain weren’t officially at war, Elizabeth secretly supported English pirates and smugglers who aimed to profit at Spain’s expense, including Francis Drake.
Drake had made several voyages to Spain’s New World empire, where he engaged in various activities, including raiding ships and settlements. In Panama, he climbed a tree to view the Pacific Ocean and dreamed of being the first Englishman to sail it. His opportunity arose in 1577 when the Queen entrusted him with a secret mission to raid the Spanish empire’s Pacific coast. On December 13, Drake set sail for the New World with five ships and 164 men. Along the way, his fleet captured several Spanish and Portuguese ships and a navigator who became their guide.
After a challenging crossing of the Atlantic and 63 days without sight of land, Drake reached Brazil. He struggled southward to Puerto San Julian by June, where he decided to wait out the winter storms. Fifty-eight years earlier, Magellan had wintered at the same location. Drake’s crew even discovered remains of men executed by Magellan for mutiny. Coincidentally, Drake put one of his leading officers, Thomas Doughty, on trial here and found him guilty of attempting to sabotage the expedition; he was executed as well.
With only three ships remaining, Drake continued south, making a smooth passage through the Magellan Strait in just 16 days. He renamed his flagship, the Pelican, to the Golden Hind, in tribute to one of the expedition’s sponsors. In September, Drake and his men became the first Englishmen to reach the Pacific, where they faced 52 days of hurricane winds and rough seas. One ship, the Marigold, was lost, and another, the Elizabeth, returned home. Only the Golden Hind remained, driven south towards Cape Horn.
Drake sought to barter for supplies with local tribes on Mocha Island, but they mistook his men for the Spanish and attacked, resulting in casualties. Despite this setback, Drake arrived at the virtually unguarded Spanish Pacific coast, beginning a significant robbing spree. He first targeted the Spanish port of Valparaíso, seizing gold and wine, then moved on to Arica for silver, and robbed every ship in El Callao harbor. He learned that the Spanish treasure ship, Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, had recently sailed north and set off in pursuit.
Drake overtook the Spanish galleon off the coast of Ecuador. The Spanish crew, unaccustomed to an English pirate in the Pacific, was taken by surprise when the Golden Hind opened fire and quickly surrendered. In the galleon’s hold, Drake’s men found a substantial amount of treasure, including gold, silver, and jewels, valued today at around 60 million dollars.
Using Peruvian silver for ballast, the Golden Hind continued up the coast, stopping to raid Huatulco for supplies. Drake, unaware of the Marigold’s destruction, accepted that his comrades were lost and sought a theoretical Northwest Passage back to the Atlantic. He may have sailed as far north as Vancouver Island before returning to land in California, which he named Nova Albion and claimed for Queen Elizabeth.
The English were welcomed by local Miwok Native Americans, who may have viewed them as ancient spirits. Drake’s men spent five weeks repairing the Golden Hind, knowing they had only one way home. With the Spanish on high alert, Drake decided to sail west across the Pacific Ocean to circumnavigate the globe.
Drake set sail on July 23, 1579. After 68 days without sight of land, they reached Palau and then the Philippines. They continued to the Spice Islands, adding valuable cloves to their already rich cargo. However, disaster struck when the ship hit a reef and became stuck. The crew lightened the ship by throwing cargo overboard and prayed for rescue. Miraculously, after 20 hours, winds and tides freed them.
The Golden Hind navigated through the Indonesian islands, and after a two-week stop in Java, Drake sailed across the Indian Ocean. In June, he rounded the Cape of Good Hope and stopped in Sierra Leone for supplies. Without further incident, he reached Plymouth on September 26, 1580, with 59 surviving crew members. His cargo made a fortune for Drake and his investors, with an estimated return of 4,600 percent. Queen Elizabeth profited from his success and knighted Drake aboard the Golden Hind in London the following year.
Drake’s remarkable voyage made him the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. He would gain further fame for his role in defeating the Spanish Armada eight years later. Sir Francis Drake remains one of England’s greatest naval heroes. His daring expedition is part of a broader story of human exploration that dates back to prehistory.
If you want to learn more, consider starting a free trial with The Great Courses Plus, an on-demand video subscription service featuring over 70 history courses taught by top academics. Their course, “History’s Greatest Voyages of Exploration,” includes 24 half-hour lectures available on various devices. If you love history, you’ll find many other courses appealing, covering topics from science to personal development.
Visit thegreatcoursesplus.com/epichistorytv or click the link in the video description to start your free trial today. Thanks to our Patreon supporters who make this channel possible. This video was created in collaboration with Simple History. Watch the other half of our exploration double-bill featuring the story of Magellan here! If you haven’t already, consider subscribing to both channels and clicking the bell to receive notifications for new videos.
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This version removes any sensitive or potentially offensive content while maintaining the overall narrative and information.
Drake – A famous English sea captain known for his voyages around the world in the late 16th century. – Sir Francis Drake was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe, completing his journey in 1580.
England – A country in Europe that was a major colonial power from the 16th to the 20th century. – During the Age of Exploration, England established colonies in North America, India, and other parts of the world.
Spain – A European country that was a leading global power during the Age of Exploration, known for its conquests in the Americas. – Spain’s explorers, like Christopher Columbus, played a crucial role in discovering new lands across the Atlantic Ocean.
Pacific – The largest and deepest ocean on Earth, located between Asia and the Americas. – The Pacific Ocean was named by the explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who found its waters to be calm compared to the Atlantic.
Treasure – Valuable items such as gold, silver, and jewels, often sought after by explorers and pirates. – Many explorers set sail in search of treasure, hoping to find riches in the New World.
Voyage – A long journey involving travel by sea or in space. – The voyage of the Mayflower in 1620 brought the Pilgrims to the shores of what is now the United States.
Exploration – The act of traveling in or through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it. – The Age of Exploration was a period when European nations sent ships to discover new lands and trade routes.
Empire – A group of countries or regions that are controlled by one ruler or government. – The Roman Empire was one of the largest and most powerful empires in ancient history.
California – A state on the west coast of the United States, originally explored by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. – California was once part of the Spanish Empire before becoming a state in the United States in 1850.
Native – Referring to the original inhabitants of a place, especially before colonization. – Native American tribes lived across North America long before European explorers arrived.
