Question

Prior to the battle, Spain was the most powerful country in the world. The Spanish navy had made the Atlantic Ocean a Spanish sea. But now, the defeat of the Armada, England and other European countries could freely send explorers and _______ to the New World.

Answer 1

The defeat of the Spanish Armada by the English navy in 1588 led to the decline of Spanish maritime dominance.

Step-by-step explanation:

Following the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, there was a significant shift in naval power that allowed England and other European countries to expand their reach into the New World. Under the reign of King Philip of Spain, the Spanish Armada, amassed to conquer England and stifle the rise of Protestantism, encountered not only the tactical prowess of the smaller and swifter English ships but also a devastating storm in the English Channel. The subsequent retreat of the Spanish Armara, along with the losses they suffered due to severe weather conditions, heralded the decline of Spanish sea power.

This pivotal event in maritime history left the Atlantic Ocean open to other European powers, leading to increased colonization efforts in the Americas. The English naval victory and the weakening of Spanish naval dominance granted England the opportunity to establish itself as a principal actor in North American colonization.

The door was thus opened for English explorers and colonists to freely travel to and settle in the New World, initiating the rise of the British Empire and fostering global trade and exploration that reshaped world history.