This documentary is part of a series that describes wars, battles, and revolutions that were turning points in Western history.

The Spanish Armada (or large fleet of ships) assembled by King Philip II of Spain was designed to carry a large number of forces up the English Channel to Great Britain in an effort to invade that country and place it under Spain's rule. This video discusses the political, financial, religious and other motivations that made Spain risk this major military undertaking. Its ultimate failure proved that England was far from being a little island unable to protect itself from intimidating outside forces.—Paul Gerard Kennedy