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By Javier Ruescas & Javier Wrana. (Below is the Abstract of the Paper. Please see bottom for link to full text)
Most essays on the Manila Galleons or West Indies Fleet concentrate on the respective trade routes across the Pacific and the Atlantic, without assessing the greater, global route that both fleets comprised. The aim of this paper is to reflect on the larger context of the West Indies-Manila Galleon trade, a route that spanned from Europe to the Americas, and to Asia-Pacific, the first global trade route in history, and the longest in its time. The line covered 15,000 miles in its full length from Spain to the Philippines, linking Seville with Veracruz in its Atlantic phase, then Mexico City and Acapulco overland, and eventually Manila across the Pacific.
The Pacific line existed since Urdaneta's discovery of the tornaviaje in 1565, and linked Manila with Acapulco regularly until 1815. Asian goods like silk, porcelain, ivory and spices were carried to Acapulco in exchange for silver from the mines of Zacatecas and Potosi. Much of this merchandise was then carried overland through Mexico City to Veracruz, where it was loaded on the West Indies Fleet or Flota de Indias. The fleet sailed to Seville after calling at Havana, carrying valuable commodities from New Spain, Peru and Asia. This influx of Asian goods for over two centuries led to interesting cultural phenomena in Spain, such as the adoption of the Manila shawl in the flamenco dress, today considered inherent to Andalusian fashion.
In the opposite direction, the West Indies Fleet already sailed the Atlantic between Spain and the Americas since Columbus' first voyage in 1492. The fleet split into two convoys in the Caribbean, La Flota which headed for Havana and Veracruz, and Los Galeones which called at Cartagena and Portobello. Spanish wines, olive oil, and manufactured goods were shipped to Veracruz and then embarked on the Acapulco galleon to Manila. The introduction of Spanish tools, textiles and agricultural products in the Philippines led to important changes in the way of life of its population. It also led to the adoption of many Spanish terms in Tagalog which are since considered native terms. Examples include "kutsylio" (knife), "martylio" (hammer), "araro" (plow), "algodon" (cotton), "oliba" (olive), and "asukal" (sugar). The regular shipment of goods from Seville to Manila (and back) and the fact that it fell under the single, central jurisdiction of the Casa de Contratación, proves the existence of this global trade route that spanned three continents.
Interestingly, this route was not only the longest in its time; it was also the first global trade route in history. Other historical routes such as the ancient European-Indian routes, the Silk Road (up to the 13th century) or the contemporary Portuguese and Dutch spice routes, were all inferior in length. More importantly, the continental coverage of these other routes was smaller as they were limited to Europe and Asia, sometimes Africa. The Seville-Manila route also linked, and crossed, the American continent.
Linking three continents was just one of the achievements of the global Spanish-Philippine route. More significantly, it contributed to the development of trade within Asia and Europe, either by promoting existing routes or by establishing new ones. Large quantities of Spanish 8-Real silver coins entered the Asian markets via Manila, in exchange for all sorts of luxury goods. These coins eventually became legal tender in countries such as China. On the opposite end, Seville became one of the major trade centers in Europe, leading to growth of manufacturing activity. In the Americas, the global route also resulted in the development of internal trade within New Spain and Peru.
Javier Ruescas and Javier Wrana are founding members of the Asociación Cultural Galeón de Manila. The paper was presented at the International Conference "The Manila Galleons and the Making of the Pacific" in Manila (November 2009).
The West Indies Fleet and Manila Galleons (full paper) >
La Flota de Indias y el Galeón de Manila: la Primera Ruta Comercial Mundial (español) >
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