Why England Entered the Race to Explore

During the Age of Exploration, England watched as Spain and Portugal grew wealthy from trade and new lands overseas. Determined not to be left behind, England began sponsoring voyages to discover new routes, claim territory, and build a powerful overseas empire. English rulers hoped explorers would find riches, bring back valuable goods, and challenge Spain’s influence across the world. As England developed stronger ships and better navigational skills, it quickly became one of the major seafaring nations of the 1500s and 1600s.

Early Voyages: Cabot and the Search for New Lands

One of the first important English-sponsored explorers was John Cabot, an Italian navigator who sailed across the Atlantic in 1497. Cabot reached the coast of present-day Canada and claimed the region for England, giving the English their earliest foothold in the New World. Although Cabot did not stay long, his reports of abundant seas and promising coastlines encouraged future explorers to continue searching for new opportunities in North America.

Searching for Trade Routes and Colonies

Throughout the 1500s and 1600s, English explorers continued to sail across the Atlantic in hopes of finding new trade routes and building colonies. Many explorers, including Martin Frobisher and Henry Hudson, searched for the Northwest Passage—a shortcut to Asia across the icy northern seas. While they never found the passage they hoped for, their voyages helped map large areas of Canada and the northeastern parts of North America. Other explorers, such as Sir Walter Raleigh, attempted to start settlements along the Atlantic coast, including the famous—and mysterious—Roanoke Colony. These early efforts laid the groundwork for the future English colonies that would eventually become the United States.

Interactive Route maps of Cabot and Hudson

Famous English Explorers: Drake and Beyond

As England expanded its exploration efforts, some explorers became national heroes. Sir Francis Drake was one of the most famous. Between 1577 and 1580, Drake became the second person in history to successfully sail around the world. Along the way, he raided Spanish towns and ships, seizing treasure and weakening Spain’s control over its empire. Other English explorers traveled to the Arctic, Africa, and Asia, gathering valuable information that would shape future trade networks.

English Pirates and the "Sea Dogs"

Not all English activity on the seas came from official explorers. During the 1500s, England relied on groups of government-approved pirates known as Sea Dogs. These men, including Francis Drake, John Hawkins, and Thomas Cavendish, were encouraged to attack Spanish ships and steal their treasure. While Spain considered them criminals, many people in England viewed them as patriotic heroes who helped challenge Spanish power. These Sea Dogs played a major role in weakening Spain’s influence and securing England’s place on the world stage during the Age of Exploration.

Elizabethan Sea Dog - Sir Richard Grenville

Impact and Legacy of English Exploration

English exploration laid the foundation for one of the largest empires in history. Although early attempts at colonization sometimes failed, the experience gained from these voyages encouraged England to build permanent settlements in North America and later in Africa and Asia. English explorers and settlers brought new technologies, crops, and ideas to the regions they reached. At the same time, their arrival caused major disruptions to Indigenous populations, including the loss of land, culture, and life. Despite the challenges and conflicts, English exploration forever changed the map of the world and helped shape global trade, migration, and cultural exchange.

Discussion Questions

1. Why did England begin exploring during the Age of Exploration?
2. How did early explorers like John Cabot and Henry Hudson contribute to England’s goals?
3. What role did the Sea Dogs play in England’s rise as a global sea power?
4. How did English exploration affect the Indigenous peoples of North America?

Glossary

• Sea Dogs – English privateers (government-approved pirates) who attacked rival ships.
• Privateer – A pirate who is officially authorized by a government to attack enemy ships.
• Northwest Passage – A northern sea route believed to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
• Expedition – A journey undertaken for exploration or discovery.
• Colony – A settlement ruled by a distant country.