Britannia ruled the waves... for a while.

video tribute to "1492: Conquest of Paradise" (Ridley Scott, 1992) original score and performance by Vangelis


I chose this piece, the main theme from Ridley Scott's 1992 film 1492: Conquest of Paradise for its sweeping, epic feel and the sense of strength and purpose. The reign of Queen Elizabeth I saw England's rise as a dominant maritime power of Europe, a position they maintained until well into the nineteenth century. The destruction of the Spanish armada left England as one of the most powerful naval forces in the western hemisphere, paved the way for their subsequent assumption of control over much of the Caribbean and North Atlantic, and eventually opened opportunities for English colonization in North America.