Old World Wars.

Following the Peace of Cateau- Cambresis in 1559, most European crowns accepted the doctrine that fighting "beyond the Line" did not affect peaceful relations in the Old World. The opposite, however, did not hold true: conflict in Europe in the late sixteenth century often extended into the Americas. This occurred, in part, because Spain—by far the dominant power of the day—derived much of its strength from the gold and silver it received from its New World possessions. Aware of both the importance of Spain's New World empire and of its vulnerability, rival powers attacked Philip II's possessions in the Americas and commissioned private ship captains known as privateers to raid Spanish shipping in the Caribbean. Periodically they even sought to establish bases such as Fort Caroline from which their...