"raleigh6" - 1 õppematerjal

ASPECTS OF BRITISH HISTORY

Elizabeth I (1558–1603) was the first of three long-reigning queens in British history (the other two are Queen Victoria, 1837–1901, and Queen Elizabeth II, 60 succeeded in 1952). Her reign is considered by many as the Golden Age of English history, whose symbols were Francis Drake and William Shakespeare5. The discovery of America placed England at the centre of the world’s trading routes, and brilliant naval commanders (especially Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh6) enabled England to dominate these trade routes. Elizabeth and her advisers considered trade the most important foreign policy matter, as Henry VII had done. For them England’s greatest trade rival was also its greatest enemy. This idea remained the basis of England’s foreign policy until the nineteenth century. A number of companies were established to trade with various regions of the world. The Moscovy Company had been developing profitable trade with Russia