Final answer:
The correct answer is option a) 1588, English Channel.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1588, the Spanish Armada was defeated in the English Channel. The Armada, assembled by King Philip of Spain, was a massive force intended to overthrow Protestant England and aid in the Catholic re-conquest of rebelling Protestant territories.
However, the English navy, led by Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake, capitalized on quick and maneuverable ships, as well as a fortuitous storm referred to as the 'Protestant wind', to overcome the larger Spanish fleet.
Most of the Spanish ships were destroyed during their retreat by storms in the North Sea, leading to a monumental shift in naval power towards England and supplying the impetus for future English colonization efforts.