The country which had the most powerful Navy in the sixteenth century was:
(C) Spain
Spain was the first country that discovered America. It was because of the Columbus Expedition of 1492, which was funded by Queen Isabella. Spain needed many boats to transport men, arms, foods, and all the other things needed for the daily life of a colony. Because there were a lot of new lands to be colonized, such as in South America (Peru, Mexico) and the Caribbeans (Cuba, Puerto Rico).
During the 16th century, the Spanish had the largest colonial empire and the most powerful navy in the world, which was called the Armada. Their only real competitor at that time was Portugal, which also had famous navigators who had conquered many territories. The Portuguese mainly conquered West Africa (Cap Verde, Senegal) and Southeast Asia (Philippines, Moluccas).
These dominations did not last more than a century because France and England improved and caught up quickly. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Spaniards lost the part of their empire, because they were attacked on all sides by these two other great European powers. Today, the Spanish Armada is a minor navy. It can not compete with the United States, China, Russia, or even France.
Subject: History
Chapter: Colonization of America
Keywords: the history of Spain, Spanish colonization, colonies of Spain, the famous Spanish navigators
