In Tudor times, sailors travelled the world, exploring new lands, making great discoveries and collecting great wealth. This is one reason why Elizabethan times are known as a Golden Age. These voyages gave England:

Treasure: stolen from Spanish ships and ports and from the slave trade.
Territory: these voyages developed England's naval power which formed the basis of England's empire.
Trade: new goods, markets and trading companies were opened.
Tobacco: new items like tobacco were discovered and introduced to England for the first time.

Sir Francis Drake

Circumnavigated (sailed all the way round) the world 1577-1580. He brought back so much treasure that the half he gave to Elizabeth doubled her income that year. He attacked Spanish ships and stole their treasure. He was an English hero, but the Spanish regarded him as a pirate. He led the English fleet (with Lord Howard of Effingham) to defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588.

John Hawkins

Drake's cousin. He was put in charge of building up the English Navy. Like Drake, he was a privateer (pirate) and together they started the English slave trade, capturing slaves from West Africa in 1564.

Sir Walter Raleigh

A favourite of Elizabeth. He spent years fighting Catholic rebels in Ireland but is best known for his voyages to South America and North America, where he founded the first American colony.

GCSE Elizabethan England 1568-1603 AQA

English Sailors and their Voyages