The voyages of Columbus sent shockwaves around Europe. Now, the world was undeniably round. And a voyage across the western ocean could open up new trading opportunities with the East. This would cut out the long land journey and all the middlemen along the way.
Henry VIII is generally credited as the ‘father of the English Navy’ – but the foundations were laid by his father. Henry VII invested in shipbuilding to strengthen both the navy and the merchant marine. He also built Europe’s first dry dock at Portsmouth – which survives today.
John Cabot (Zuan Caboto in Venetian) had been trading around the Eastern Mediterranean, when a problem with money caused him to flee Venice. After unsuccessful visits to Spain
