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Seafaring activity for trade and travel was dominant throughout the Spanish Empire, and in the worldview and imagination of its inhabitants, the specter of shipwreck loomed large. Shipwreck in the Early Modern Hispanic World probes this preoccupation by examining portrayals of nautical disasters in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Spanish literature and culture. The essays collected here showcase shipwreck’s symbolic deployment to question colonial expansion and transoceanic trade; to critique the Christian enterprise overseas; to signal the collapse of dominant social order; and to relay moral messages and represent socio-political debates. The contributors find examples in poetry, theater, narrative fiction, and other print artifacts, and approach the topic variously through the lens of historical, literary, and cultural studies. Ultimately demonstrating how shipwrecks both shaped and destabilized perceptions of the Spanish Empire worldwide, this analytically rich volume is the first in Hispanic studies to investigate the darker side of mercantile and imperial expansion through maritime disaster.

Via rigorous study of the legal arguments Spain developed to justify its acts of war and conquest, The Other Side of Empire illuminates Spain's expansionary ventures in the Mediterranean in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Andrew Devereux proposes and explores an important yet hitherto unstudied connection between the different rationales that Spanish jurists and theologians developed in the Mediterranean and in the Americas. Devereux describes the ways in which Spaniards conceived of these two theatres of imperial ambition as complementary parts of a whole. At precisely the moment that Spain was establishing its first colonies in the Caribbean, the Crown directed a series of Old World conquests that encompassed the Kingdom of Naples, Navarre, and a string of presidios along the coast of North Africa. Projected conquests in the eastern Mediterranean never took place, but the Crown seriously contemplated assaults on Egypt, Greece, Turkey, and Palestine. The Other Side of Empire elucidates the relationship between the legal doctrines on which Spain based its expansionary claims in the Old World and the New. The Other Side of Empire vastly expands our understanding of the ways in which Spaniards, at the dawn of the early modern era, thought about religious and ethnic difference, and how this informed political thought on just war and empire. While focusing on imperial projects in the Mediterranean, it simultaneously presents a novel contextual background for understanding the origins of European colonialism in the Americas.

Objective/context: This article shows the internal dynamics of a distinct frontier region along the eastern plains of the New Kingdom of Granada during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The foundation of cities, the creation of governorships, their constant shifts and jurisdictional disputes, the exploitation of indigenous labor, security, and the imperial expansion were highly complex issues that today allow analyzing the territorialization of the Spanish Empire on a local scale in which multiple negotiations took place between the central power of the Audiencia at the Reign’s capital and the rulers and settlers in the frontier. Methodology: By comparing and contrasting rarely explored sources, such as the capitulations of governorships and the reports of royal officials and Jesuit missionaries on indigenous slavery and settlement, the article shows how the plain’s provinces were politically and administratively constructed over this period. Originality: the research delves into the complexities of provincial formation in a frontier area, expanding in detail the procedures for the settlement of the Llanos’ governorships, a topic little studied in the literature dedicated to the imperial past in the New Kingdom of Granada. Conclusions: The dynamism and mobility that occurred in the plains piedmont, influenced by phenomena such as indigenous slavery, jurisdictional instability and fear of possible invasions by foreign powers, reveal the local construction of the Empire and the relationships between different managing levels.

Objective/context: This introduction, mainly of a historiographical nature, has two objectives: first, to present the most relevant contributions of sensory history as an interpretative approach that conceives the senses as conditioned by social and cultural factors in a given time and space, and second, to relate sensory experiences with political practices in the Spanish Empire of the fifteenth-eighteenth centuries, contextualizing the contributions of this dossier in this line of research. Methodology: The study analyzes contributions that have allowed the definition of sensory history as a heuristic approach valid for a plurality of fields and topics, which enjoys enormous popularity in the research agenda. Originality: This dossier includes a valuable collection of essays specifically dedicated to the sensory experience in the Hispanic Empire between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries. It is the first thematic issue on this subject. Conclusions: The article places the studies included in this volume within a broader historiographical context while pointing out possible future avenues of research. Objetivo/contexto: esta introducción, de corte principalmente historiográfico, tiene dos objetivos: el primero es presentar las aportaciones más relevantes de la historia sensorial como enfoque interpretativo que concibe a los sentidos condicionados por factores sociales y culturales en un tiempo y un espacio determinados; el segundo es relacionar las experiencias sensoriales con las prácticas políticas en el Imperio español de los siglos XV-XVIII, contextualizando en esta línea de investigación las contribuciones de este dossier. Metodología: se analizan los aportes que han permitido la definición de la historia sensorial como un enfoque heurístico válido para una pluralidad de campos y temas que goza de enorme popularidad en la agenda investigativa. Originalidad: este dossier incluye una valiosa colección de ensayos, dedicada específicamente a la experiencia sensorial en el Imperio hispánico entre los siglos XV y XVIII. Se trata del primer dossier con esta temática. Conclusiones: el artículo ubica los estudios de este dossier dentro de un contexto historiográfico más amplio, a la vez que señala posibles caminos futuros de investigación.  Objetivo/contexto: esta introdução, de caráter principalmente historiográfico, tem dois objetivos: o primeiro é apresentar as contribuições mais relevantes da história sensorial como uma abordagem interpretativa que concebe os sentidos como condicionados por fatores sociais e culturais em um tempo e espaço específicos; o segundo é relacionar as experiências sensoriais às práticas políticas no Império espanhol do século 15 ao 18, contextualizando as contribuições deste dossiê nessa linha de pesquisa. Metodologia: são analisadas as contribuições que permitiram a definição da história sensorial como uma abordagem heurística válida para uma pluralidade de campos e tópicos que goza de enorme popularidade na agenda de pesquisa. Originalidade: este dossiê inclui valiosa coleção de ensaios, especificamente dedicados à experiência sensorial no Império hispânico entre os séculos 15 e 18. Trata-se do primeiro dossiê sobre esse assunto. Conclusões: este artigo situa os estudos desta edição temática em um contexto historiográfico mais amplo, ao mesmo tempo que aponta para possíveis caminhos futuros de pesquisa.

Objective/Context: This article analyzes Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo’s Historia general y natural de las Indias to evaluate the relationship between “sensitive experience” and “historical writing” in the context of the 16th-century construction of the Indian Chronicle. Methodology: The study develops a discursive analysis focused on the chronicle, understanding it as a product inscribed in a place of production that determines it in narrative terms. Here, the theories on the writing of history and the “Historical Experience” developed by Michel de Certeau and Frank Ankersmit are closely followed, allowing us to establish the discursive value of the “experiential” in the Oviedo chronicle. Originality: This study presents an alternative vision concerning the historiography focused on the chronicles of conquest, which has seen a sign of nascent modern scientism in Fernández de Oviedo’s work. By analyzing the chronicle from the perspective of the rhetorical discourse, the article questions its value as a source of “truths” about the process of conquest and colonization of America. This allows us to rethink the textual element, understanding it no longer as a “transmitter of experiences” but as the product of a “narrative experience” that transforms what is observed into discursive matter. Conclusions: Taking into account the above, we propose that the Historia general y natural de las Indias does not reveal “sensitive experiences” based on purely empirical acts but, on the contrary, constitutes a significant discourse of such “experiences.” The chronicler’s political vision and conditions are imposed here to turn reality into a rhetorical matter, giving life to an imperial-style discourse that establishes a narrative image of the New World experience. Objetivo/Contexto: este artículo analiza la Historia general y natural de las Indias de Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo con el fin de evaluar la relación entre “experiencia sensible” y “escritura histórica” en el contexto de la construcción de la Crónica indiana del siglo xvi. Metodología: se desarrolla un análisis discursivo centrado en la crónica, entendiéndola como un producto inscrito en un lugar de producción que la determina en términos narrativos. Se siguen de cerca las teorías sobre la escritura de la historia y la “experiencia histórica” desarrolladas por Michel de Certeau y Frank Ankersmit, las cuales permiten establecer el valordiscursivo de lo experiencial en la crónica ovetense. Originalidad: este estudio se presenta como una visión alternativa en relación con la historiografía centrada en las crónicas de conquista, que ha visto en la obra de Fernández de Oviedo un signo del naciente cientificismo altomoderno. Al analizar la crónica desde la óptica del discurso retórico se cuestiona su valor como fuente de “verdades” sobre el proceso de conquista y colonización de América. Esto permite repensar lo textual, entendiéndolo ya no como un “transmisor de experiencias”, sino más bien como el producto de una “experiencia narrativa” que convierte lo observado en materia discursiva. Conclusiones: teniendo en cuenta lo anterior, planteamos que la Historia general y natural de las Indias de Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo no revela “experiencias sensibles” fundadas en actos puramente empíricos, sino que, por el contrario, constituye un discurso significante de dichas “experiencias”. La visión política y las condiciones propias del cronista se imponen aquí para convertir lo real en materia retórica, dando vida a un discurso de corte imperial que, finalmente, instituye una imagen narrativa de la experiencia indiana. Objetivo/contexto: neste artigo, analisa-se a Historia general y natural de las Indias, de Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo, a fim de avaliar a relação entre “experiência sensível” e “escrita histórica” no contexto da construção da Crônica de Índias do século 16. Metodologia: desenvolve-se análise discursiva centrada na crônica, entendendo-a como um produto inscrito em um lugar de produção que a determina em termos narrativos. Seguem-se de perto as teorias sobre a escrita da história e a “experiência histórica” desenvolvidas por Michel de Certeau e Frank Ankersmit, que nos permitem estabelecer o valor discursivo do experiencial na crônica de Oviedo. Originalidade: este estudo é apresentado como uma visão alternativa da historiografia centrada nas crônicas da conquista, que viu na obra de Fernández de Oviedo sinal do emergente cientificismo alto moderno. Ao analisar a crônica do ponto de vista do discurso retórico, questiona-se seu valor como fonte de “verdades” sobre o processo de conquista e colonização da América. Isso nos permite repensar o textual, entendendo-o não mais como um “transmissor de experiências”, mas sim como o produto de uma “experiência narrativa” que transforma o observado em matéria discursiva. Conclusões: considerando o exposto acima, postulamos que a Historia general y natural de las Indias, de Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo, não revela “experiências sensíveis” fundadas em atos puramente empíricos, mas, ao contrário, constitui discurso significante de tais “experiências”. A visão política e as próprias condições do cronista se impõem aqui para converter o real em matéria retórica, dando vida a um discurso de natureza imperial que, finalmente, institui uma imagem narrativa da experiência indiana.

Recent research shows that colonialism reversed levels of development in much of the non-European world. To explain this reversal, analysts focus on conditions within the colonized areas. By contrast, drawing on evidence from Spanish & British colonialism, the authors show that the economic models of the colonizing nations also affected the reversals of fortune. Mercantilist Spain tended to colonize most extensively precolonial regions that were populous & highly developed; in turn, extensive Spanish colonization had negative consequences for postcolonial development. In comparison, liberal Britain tended to colonize most extensively precolonial regions that were sparsely populated & underdeveloped; in turn, extensive British colonialism had comparatively positive effects. Thus, both Spain & Britain reversed the fortunes of precolonial regions, but in largely opposite ways. Tables, Figures, References. Adapted from the source document.

This article investigates the reason why groups of merchants operating from the Dutch Republic, particularly from Amsterdam, decided to take part in the exploitation of the Spanish Empire, through a very particular type of activity, that of the slave trade. We argue that Amsterdam-based merchants were heavily engaged, through various organizational forms, in supplying Spanish American markets with enslaved Africans. This participation was rewarded with a path for access to Spanish American silver, at the time the essential exchange mechanism for entry and expansion in the Mediterranean and Asian trades.

The history of European overseas expansion has traditionally been studied from a national perspective. However, the rise of Atlantic history, global history, and a revitalized maritime history has prompted scholars to question the rigidity of Early Modern borders assumed by these conventional national or imperial frameworks. In parallel, researchers have contested the state-centric viewpoint by advocating for an actor-focused approach to Atlantic System history, emphasizing the role of private merchants and their informal, international networks. These approaches have uncovered the involvement of entrepreneurs belonging to polities without a formal empire in the colonial ventures of other nations. This paper examines one such trans-imperial enterprise: Romberg & Consors, a firm operating from the Austrian Netherlands. During and after the American War of Independence (1775–83), Romberg & Consors leveraged evolving Spanish attitudes toward the slave trade and the establishment of neutral trade to organize slave trade expeditions to Cuba. By closely analyzing the operations of this Imperial firm, this study illuminates a decisive phase in Spanish imperial history while contributing to the often-overlooked Atlantic history of the Habsburg Monarchy and the Austrian Netherlands.

Gould interrogates the use of comparative methods in Atlantic history, proposing entangled history as an alternate model for histories that examine more than one national community. In the case of the Spanish and English-speaking Atlantic worlds, Gould argues that Spain's Atlantic empire played a central role in the history of the early modern British Empire and the early American Republic.

In 1543, a Talino man had been living in the mountains in the central southern part of Hispaniola for twelve years. Though fluent in Spanish and familiar with Spanish ways, he had fled to escape the oppressive exploitation of the encomienda. The man survived in the wilderness through a special relationship with three formerly feral pigs, two males and a female. The man and his pigs would go hunting for \"wild\" pigs, in the same way Europeans hunted prey with dogs--one pig tracking, one seizing, and one assisting, with the Indian giving the final thrust of death with a make--do spear. Once the prey was killed, the man would preside over the ritual distribution of the carcass, as was done in traditional hunts in Europe with dogs, \"giving the interior parts to his companions,\" while he made a barbecue for himself and salted the flesh for several days' consumption. Here, Norton details central divergences between European and Amerindian cultures' ways of organizing inter-species relationships.