How did England become a world power in the Elizabethan Era?

Question

How did England become a world power in the Elizabethan Era?

Answer 1

By defeating the Spanish Armada.  And by preying on Spanish shipping to and from and the colonies (and in Drake's case, even harrying them into the Pacific).  By becoming a (or soon THE) sea power, they were able to enter the world stage.  Also, they were starting colonies of their own at the time.

Answer 2

English sailors manned ships of the Royal Navy, though her brightest days were well after Elizabeth's time.

Answer 3

Well, I would generally sum it up with one word, stability.   Elizabeth was a consistant and stable power for nearly 50 years.   She kept her rivals at bay through means that generally did not affect the commerce of her countrymen. She also refused to marry, therefore never handing over her power to any suitor, in spite of being encouraged to do so nearly all her life while in power.  

Elizabeth was a very intelligent woman, and a VERY good judge of character as well as someone who understood her power.   She understood how wealth worked.  She understood how royalty worked.  Because she kept England as a protestant country, she kept the Catholic church at bay.  

She also was ruthless when it came to any challenge to her rule.  In some ways, she was like a mother bear, willing to tear apart any who would threaten what was important to her.  She had a very loyal group of people around her, and she was very good at making sure that the outcome was as she desired.  

During her rule, the people of England were not at war all the time.  This allowed for merchants to trade and for people to work the fields.  This meant that people ate, bought and sold stuff and paid taxes.    Elizabeth also was very clever with regards to dealing with the new world quietly funding privateers who took a good deal of wealth from Spanish ships returning from the new world.  

She was no triffle on the international scene.  She thwarted Phillip II, her former brother-in-law on several fronts.  Phillip eventually declared war on England.  Phillip was fed up and also always desired to rule England.  Elizabeth by this time had built up the military and had stabilized the English economy to the point that there was a some general wealth in the country.  Elizabeth had no problems fighting Phillip.  Phillip died and his son took over the war in a rather token fashion.  

Basically, during Elizabeth's reign, England became wealthy, and respected by the rest of Europe.  The military was built up.  England's involvement in the new world was put into place and set up to grow with colonies about to embark.  A strong beauracrasy to deal with day-to-day business was put into place, and it was consistent -- rogues or those who would build their own power -- were admonished quickly.  Local law enforcement was pretty good, and there was a pretty good system for disputes to be resolved.  Loyalty to the Queen was rewarded and disloyalty was swiftly punished in accordance to the misdeed.    Also, the arts and scholarly pursuits were able to flurish.  This allowed for England to create a larger merchant class and to invent new technologies that furthered the cause of England and it's wealth.

Answer 4

The stage for that was set by her dad, Henry VIII.  

The Anglican religion (after the purges that followed) united England in one faith.  This religion allowed London to take over lots of church land, so the state could use it to build up armed forces.  (A lost opportunity for Spain, where 25% of arable land held by the Church.) It also united the UK under one language - The Book of Common Prayer, believe it or not, forced people to learn English in places where it was uncommon, such as Wales, Cornwall, and parts of Scotland.

The need for monarchs to be Anglican pushed out the influence of the French in the Scottish monarchy, and Spain

(remember that Henry's first wife, Catherine, was Spanish) in the British monarchy.

Henry was also very interested in the navy, and helped build the navy up to something significant.

After that, in the early 16th century, England and Scotland were united in one crown; vastly increasing her size and hence military strength.

It then only remained for England to PROVE her great-power, by preying on Spanish shipping, and defeating the Spanish Armada.

Answer 5

i don't know but us english people rule!