Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History
Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016
Key topic 3: Elizabethan society in the Age of Exploration, 1558–88 - 3…
Full specification wording
Option B4: Key topic 3: Elizabethan society in the Age of Exploration, 1558–88 - 3 Exploration and voyages of discovery: Factors prompting exploration, including the impact of new technology on ships and sailing and the drive to expand trade.
Elizabethan exploration was driven by economic necessity and technological advancement.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 2
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Elizabethan exploration was driven by economic necessity and technological advancement. The collapse of the Antwerp cloth market forced merchants to seek new trading opportunities, while the desire to bypass Spanish monopolies motivated the search for direct routes to Asian spices. This drive to expand trade was facilitated by new technology in sailing and ship design. The development of the galleon, featuring lowered forecastles and lateen sails, made ships faster, more stable, and highly manoeuvrable. Furthermore, navigational improvements, such as the use of the astrolabe, the quadrant, and more accurate printed maps using the Mercator projection, allowed sailors to navigate open oceans safely and undertake longer voyages of discovery.
What earns the marks
- Explain how the decline of the Antwerp cloth trade motivated English merchants to seek new global markets.
- Describe the desire to bypass Spanish and Portuguese monopolies to access the lucrative Asian spice trade directly.
- Detail the improvements in ship design, specifically the development of the galleon with its lowered forecastle and mixed sail types.
- Explain how new navigational instruments, such as the astrolabe and quadrant, enabled more accurate ocean voyages.
- Discuss the role of improved cartography, including the Mercator projection, in facilitating long-distance exploration.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Stating that exploration was solely for discovering new lands.
Put it right by emphasising that the primary driver was economic profit and expanding trade routes.
Confusing the astrolabe with the compass.
Put it right by explaining that the astrolabe was used to determine latitude by measuring the angle of the sun or stars, while the compass showed direction.
Claiming that galleons were entirely powered by oars.
Put it right by noting that galleons relied on a combination of square and lateen sails for speed and manoeuvrability.
Exam tips
- Link technological advancements directly to the ability to undertake longer voyages, rather than just listing the inventions.
- Mention the specific economic pressures, such as the crisis in the Antwerp cloth trade, to provide context for the drive to expand trade.
- Use the term 'galleon' and describe its specific features to show precise knowledge of maritime technology.
Try the lesson
The start of the Option B4: Key topic 3: Elizabethan society in the Age of Exploration, 1558–88 - 3 Exploration and voyages of discovery: Factors prompting exploration, including the impact of new technology on ships and sailing and the drive to expand trade. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which technological development significantly improved the navigation of Elizabethan ships on long voyages?
Listen
Elizabethan exploration was driven by economic necessity and technological advancement. The collapse of the Antwerp cloth market forced merchants to seek new trading opportunities, while the desire to bypass Spanish monopolies motivated the search for direct routes to Asian spices. This drive to expand trade was facilitated by new technology in sailing and ship design. The development of the galleon, featuring lowered forecastles and lateen sails, made ships faster, more stable, and highly manoeuvrable. Furthermore, navigational improvements, such as the use of the astrolabe, the quadrant, and more accurate printed maps using the Mercator projection, allowed sailors to navigate open oceans safely and undertake longer voyages of discovery. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explain how the decline of the Antwerp cloth trade motivated English merchants to seek new global markets. Describe the desire to bypass Spanish and Portuguese monopolies to access the lucrative Asian spice trade directly. Detail the improvements in ship design, specifically the development of the galleon with its lowered forecastle and mixed sail types. Explain how new navigational instruments, such as the astrolabe and quadrant, enabled more accurate ocean voyages. A common slip: Stating that exploration was solely for discovering new lands. Instead, emphasising that the primary driver was economic profit and expanding trade routes. Exam tip: Link technological advancements directly to the ability to undertake longer voyages, rather than just listing the inventions.
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