2. 1583–1783
• In 1578, Queen Elizabeth I granted a patent to Humphrey
Gilbert for discovery and overseas exploration.
• In 1603 King James VI of Scotland controlled the English
throne and in 1604 negotiated the Treaty of London, which
ended hostilities with Spain.
• The British Empire began to take shape during the early 17th
century, with the English settlements of North America and
the Caribbean
• The establishment of the English East India Company helped
the British Empire greatly to trade with Asia.
3. America
• England's first permanent settlement in the Americas was
founded in 1607 in Jamestown.
• In 1624 the direct control of Jamestown was assumed by the
crown, founding the colony of Virginia.
• In 1620, Plymouth was founded
as a haven for puritan religious
separatists, or Pilgrims.
• Many other British colonies were
formed in America in the 17th century
4. Beginning of Slavery
• In 1672 the Royal African Company received from King Charles
a monopoly of the trade to supply slaves to the British
colonies of the Caribbean
• Slavery became was the basis of the British Empire in the
West Indies
• Until the abolition of the slave trade in 1807, Britain was
responsible for the transportation of 3.5 million African slaves
to the Americas
