Northern European Power Shift: Rise of England, France & the Netherlands

The Drive to Explore and Expand

It seems to be a universal human trait that we are always seeking to go beyond perceived boundaries and explore the unknown. Sometimes this is done for the sake of adventure and nothing more. Most times, however, it is done in the pursuit of wealth, whether in the form of land, gold, spices, slaves, or some other highly desirable commodity for a given culture in a given era.

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 as significant empires would not last forever, and soon the countries of Northern Europe — in particular, the Netherlands, France, and England — set out to claim their share of the riches as well. These countries improved upon the Spanish and Portuguese methods of exploration, shipbuilding, and trade. The English, for example, had faster, more agile ships that were more maneuverable than those of Portugal and Spain. According to one scholar (Goldman):

"The defeat of the Spanish Armada marked the turning point between the era of Spanish world domination and the rise of Britain to the position of international supremacy. Thus this battle began the decline of Spain and the ascent of Britain — a sea-change event."

Incidents such as these, coupled with a steady increase in power and wealth, helped the balance of power shift away from Portugal and Spain toward Northern Europe.

Essentially, the Northern Europeans' agenda when it came to exploration was no different from that of Portugal and Spain. The New World was rumored to be awash in cities of gold, vast tracts of fertile land, and the freedom to live as one wished, among other attractions, and the countries of Northern Europe wanted a part of it for their own empires. Not everyone who went to the New World, however, went in search of adventure, wealth, or fame. It was freedom — specifically, religious freedom — that drove a small band of settlers from England to cross the Atlantic, not to acquire riches or expand their country's empire, but to worship without persecution. These settlers founded what is known as the Jamestown Colony.

The Decline of Spanish and Portuguese Power

So how did Portugal and Spain manage to lose their empires? Part of the answer lies in the competition itself. The Dutch and the English began to attack the Portuguese in the east and the Spanish in the west. As a result, Portuguese holdings began to diminish and they eventually had to abandon their territory in East India. Spain lost many of its possessions in the New World — specifically in the Caribbean and North America. Both countries were forced to consolidate their holdings; unfortunately, rather than strengthening their positions, this consolidation only made them more vulnerable to attack.

Inconsistent Colonial Policies in the Iberian Empires

Another component of Spain's and Portugal's losses can be explained by the fact that their plans for colonization changed repeatedly. Portugal and Spain's original plan for exploration was to find trading partners, acquire power and wealth, convert any "pagans" they encountered (that is, natives who had not been exposed to Christianity), and subdue or eliminate "infidels" and Muslims. However, each new monarch — whether in Spain or Portugal — altered this plan upon succeeding to the throne. The result was a chaotic inconsistency that left the field wide open to the Northern European countries.

England's Rise: Political and Economic Advantages

One of these countries, England, was particularly well-positioned to assume power. Henry VIII was king at this time, and under his reign England experienced a tremendous surge in production and wealth. There was relative peace in the world — at least in England — and so "Henry VIII attempted to act as a mediator between France and Spain, playing the countries against each other in hopes of gaining power in Europe" (Encarta). But there was more to England's success than Henry's political maneuvering. Part of it was also attributable to exceptionally favorable weather, which enabled farmers — especially those who raised sheep — to produce crops and livestock in record numbers. Flanders, in what is now present-day Belgium, maintained a thriving wool trade with England that further added to the country's power and wealth.