Abstract The paper reveals that it might seem illogical for Philip II to have launched the largest and most expensive naval force against England, an inferior monarchy. The paper explains that one motivation for launching the Armada against England was religion. The paper discusses how the Spanish knew they were no match for the English navy, yet the Spanish were considered the best soldiers in the world and so felt confident to challenge the English on ground. The paper illustrates the failure of the Spanish Armada and portrays how it destroyed both the image of the invincibility of the Spanish forces and Philip's reputation.
From the Paper "According to author Neil Hanson, Philip II was a brilliant man at diplomacy, yet when it came to actually dispatching his Armada, he had no decisive plan. Moreover notes Hanson, it is a myth that the Spanish fleet outnumbered the English. Not only did the English have just as many ships as the Spanish, they were better ships and better armed (Conan). In fact, the British ships, guns, crew, and captains were probably somewhere between 20-30 years ahead of the Spanish, a fact not unbeknown to the Spanish (Conan). When asked by a Vatican representative about the chances of victory, one Spanish admiral remarked, "Well, the English have got better guns, better crews, better captain, better everything. So we're sailing in the confidant hope of a miracle," meaning the Spanish believed God would help them achieve victory (Conan)."
Abstract This six-page undergraduate paper examines and analyzes the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, especially in terms of tactics such as the English use of fire ships to gain the upper hand on the Spanish Galleons, and the inferiority of the Spanish Galleons compared to the smaller and faster English ships.
Abstract This sixteen-page undergraduate paper examines and analyzes the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, especially in terms of tactics such as the English use of fire ships to gain the upper hand on the Spanish Galleons, and the inferiority of the Spanish Galleons compared to the smaller and faster English ships.
From the Paper "The English defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 is undoubtedly the pivotal event in the annals of European naval history. It marked the transition from the era of ocean piracy and small-scale naval engagements to the era of full scale naval warfare that involved massive national fleets meeting head on in decisive engagements. There are volumes of historical accounts describing the events that occurred during the naval campaigns of 1588. The bulk of these historical accounts has of course been written and published by either English or Spanish historians. The historical account that will be reviewed in this paper is also the product of a British historian. The book that will be reviewed here is Garrett Mattingly's The Armada. Mattingly's approach to his topic is atypical: rather than attempting to confound his readers with numerous charts, graphs, and other ..."
Abstract This paper explains that Drake is best remembered for battling the Spanish and being the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. The author points out that Drake, called El Draque, meaning "the dragon", by the Spanish, is best known for his piracy of Spanish settlements and ships and his role in defeating the Spanish Armada. The paper describes Drake's adventure through the Strait of Magellan and into the Pacific Ocean to claim areas of North America, called Nova Albion, for Queen Elizabeth; the area included most of Washington, all of Oregon, and a sliver of California.
From the Paper "Sir Francis Drake was Vice Admiral of the English fleet fighting the Spanish Armada. During the Battle of Gravelines, on July 29, 1588 the Armada was defeated by an English naval force under the command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake off the coast of Gravelines, France. Prior to the battle, Drake is said to have been playing a game of bowls. On being warned of the approach of the Spanish fleet, Drake reportedly remarked that there was plenty of time to finish the game and still beat the Spaniards. The English later defeated the Spanish on August 4 off Dorset with a fleet under the command of Lord Howard of Effingham and Sir Francis Drake. The final battle between the English and the Spanish was off the coast of Flanders and resulted in Spanish retreat."
Aspects of Philip II's reign are examined - his administrative ways, foreign policy, religious beliefs, characteristics, in relation to his epithet 'the prudent.
Abstract Covers the policies and character of Philip II's reign in attempting to determine the accuracy of his nickname The Prudent King. Contemporary and recent sources used to illustrate Philip's strengths and weaknesses, and a balanced conclusion is reached with regards to whether he deserved his epithet. Major events of his reign are refered to, including the campaign in the Low Countries and against England. Philip's personal principles and religious beliefs are examined. The difficulties faced by 16th century European rulers acknowledged in addition to outlining the shortcomings which at time made Philip a distinctly 'imprudent ' king.
From the Paper "The proverbial qualities of Philip II leave little doubt as to how he came to be assigned the nickname "the prudent" - for he faced many of the challenges set against him with care and profound thought. Often mindful of the future, he displayed a capacity for administrative industry and put the advice offered to him by his father in the "Instructions" to the best use he could. It is vital, however, to consider how the "prudence" exhibited by Philip could at times lead to his adopting highly imprudent methods of government with regards to both the domestic situation in Castile and the prosecution of Spanish foreign policy."
Tags:armada, ii, netherlands, revolt, england, spain, spanish, castile, king, leader, government
From the Paper "I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that any Prince in Europe should dare to invade the orders of my realm.. --Queen Elizabeth I, 1533-1603
Egotistical, dominant, self-willed, and proud, but above all else, a woman, Queen Elizabeth I brought England to the seat of power and augured in a new age of English expansion, trade, and peace. It is not by her individual exploits, nor love affairs, nor fits of temper that give birth to the Elizabethan legend to this day. Rather, Elizabeth represented and continues to represent a period of English history marked by sheer force of her character internal fortitude, strength and prudence that..."
Abstract This paper outlines the historical factors and events during the 14th and 15th centuries that caused the balance of power to shift away from Portugal and Spain and toward the Netherlands, France, and England.
From the Paper "In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the dominant explorers of the time hailed from Portugal and Spain, and these countries were made quite wealthy as a result. Their position, however, as significant empires would not last forever, and soon, the countries of Northern Europe ? in particular, the Netherlands, France, and England ? set out to take their share of the riches, too. These countries improved on the Spanish and Portuguese methods of exploration, ship building, and trade. The English had faster, more agile ships that were more maneuverable then those of Portugal and Spain."
Abstract This paper examines how much of Philip II's Mediterranean policy focused on a "necessary" war, waged with an unknown chance of victory and how questions still remain as to whether or not Philip possessed a Grand Strategy and the influence it had on events in the Mediterranean. It references Braudel from a thematic perspective and uses Geoffrey Parker's notion of 'Grand strategy' as a basis for the argument. It also discusses and analyse the threat of the Turk, the threat of France and England and explores the actual aims and objectives of the Spanish strategy in the Mediterranean in context to 16th century Spanish society.
From the Paper "The scale of Spain's Empire in the 16th century can prove somewhat misleading when studying Philip's attitude towards the Mediterranean. With lands from Sicily to Cuzco forming the ?"greatest empire ever known since the creation of the world"?, it is perhaps difficult to distinguish between Philip's imperial strategy and his Mediterranean policy. Philip's imperial strategy was generally defensive. The Armada was sent to protect the Netherlands from the English threat and to put an end to attacks on colonial Spain and her privateering and France and Germany were both occupied in defence of the Netherlands. Whilst affairs in the Mediterranean may well resemble a similar theme, the main difference was the nature of nature of the opposition."
Abstract This paper follows the English rules of King Henry VIII, King Edward VI, Queen Mary I, and Queen Elizabeth I, with particular attention to their effect on religion. All influential religious laws and acts created by these rulers are mentioned.
From the Paper "Throughout the majority of European history, religion and politics were inseparable. From King Henry VIII's reign to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, this concept continued to prove true for the country of England. Eighteen year-old Henry VIII became King of England in 1509. As he came to the throne, England was a Roman Catholic country controlled by Pope Clement VII. A devout Catholic himself, King Henry VIII began his leadership by defending the Church against the newly-developed Protestant faith."
Abstract This paper explains that the idea of a defensive navy, as today, was not the reason for creating a navy during the Renaissance; the English created a navy to plunder and to protect themselves from plundering, and defense was secondary. The author points out that probably one of the greatest and most well known English sea captains was Sir Francis Drake, who helped Elizabethan England fight off the advancing Spanish Armada in 1588, which sealed England's superiority on the seas. The paper relates that the actual Royal Navy really did not come about until the time of Charles V; before this time, the royals owned a few ships that were considered a navy, but there were no real rules or order to the ships or service on them.
From the Paper "Before the fifteenth century, Great Britain was primarily occupied with issues at home, such as the Hundred Years' War and other civil issues. Exploration was left to other countries, such as Portugal and Spain. However, during the fifteenth century, all that changed, and England began to actively pursue exploration and discovery, especially in the Atlantic. By 1496, explorers such as John Cabot, an Italian living in Bristol, had obtained permission to begin exploring the globe, especially looking for spice trades to the west, which most people felt was the way to reach Asia and the Indies. In 1497, Cabot set sail, and within three months he was back in England, convinced he had found the eastern shore of Asia. Most people believe he actually found Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, or Labrador."
Abstract This paper explains that Spain came late to the industrial age; never truly recovering from the stinging 17th century loss of its legendary naval Armada at the hands of the British fleet and, by the 1830s, having lost virtually all its colonies, it became the quintessential "stagnant power," sinking slowly from first to second rate and languishing there for centuries. The author points out that, although a limited industrial infrastructure of roads, railways and manufacturing plants was in place, industrial development lagged far behind that of the United States, France, Germany and Great Britain. The paper relates that none of the dramatic changes from industrialization, which often have proven so disruptive elsewhere, has had much impact on Spain's social fabric because ninety-nine percent of the population remain staunchly Roman Catholic and family life is still deeply rooted and a bedrock of support in times of crisis, thus, Spain refuses to be overwhelmed by the so-called hustle-and-bustle of newly urbanized life.
Table of Contents
Industrialization Then
Industrialization Now
From the Paper "Just like everything else seems to have become in the last twenty years or so, industrializing now would surely be much more difficult and complex than it was - even for Spain just four decades ago, though that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. For one, things are always more complicated in a democracy than a dictatorship, where one man can have (as Franco did) quick and final say over all exigencies. Assuming Franco's demise and the installation of a gently progressive regime like the one now in power, nowadays worker safety and, in Spain, worker wages and job security, would no doubt be studied and evaluated for any new manufacturing plant, highway or railroad to be built."
Abstract This paper provides an overview of the attempted invasions of the Mongols into the island of Japan in the 13th century. The paper discusses how the weather affected the outcomes of the invasions and the interpretation of the intervention of the weather by the Japanese. The paper also discusses how the use of "kamikazes" by the Japanese in World War II was based on their belief that this tactic could provide the same type of divine intervention that helped them defeat the Mongol armada in 1274 and 1281.
From the Paper "The research showed that when the Japanese resorted to "kamikaze" attacks in the closing days of World War II, it was based on their belief that this tactic could provide the same type of divine intervention that helped them defeat the Mongol armada in 1274 and 1281. One of the more interesting issues to emerge from the research was the fact that 13th century Japanese did not regard these events as being the result of a deity using the typhoons as a tool to defeat the Mongols, but rather that the winds themselves were a deity and worthy of being worshipped. The impact of these events have left a highly influential legacy on the Japanese mentality, it would seem, and when people believe that the gods are on their side, anything is possible if not achievable. From this perspective, it is not so hard to understand why so many Japanese pilots volunteered for these suicide missions after all."
