Les Jeudis Hispanophiles

Few years after arriving in America, Spanish explorers managed to fulfill the Columbian dream of uniting Europe with Asia (through America) and began an Asia-America-Europe trade route that remained in operation until 1821 when Mexico became independent from Spanish crown.

The Manila Galleon was a great maritime epic of Spain in the Pacific that lasted for more than 250 years and regularly united the Philippines with New Spain (today Mexico) and Seville (Spain), in Europe.

From Europe to Asia towards the west ? Indeed, before the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, it was the shortest route.

The outward route to Asia was traced for the Crown of Spain by Magellan and Elcano in 1521 arriving in the Philippines and secured in 1564 by Legazpi.

Urdaneta will find a sailing route back to America from Asia profiting of the Kuroshio current , starting in Taiwan, continuing along the coast of Japan and then deviating towards the east to cross the Pacific as if it were a highway till California. Between 1565 and 1815 it was the “road” by which 110 immense Spanish galleons up to 50 meters in length sailed to Acapulco in a dangerous and long journey of about 5 or 6 months. Part of the merchandise remained in Nueva España (Mexico) and the rest was moved by land to Veracruz (Atlantic coast of Nueva España) from where the fleet of the Indies shipped it to Seville. And from Seville to all of Europe.

Thanks to the “Manila Galleon”, Seville, Veracruz, Acapulco and Manila became the most important ports in the world for centuries. Improvements in the Philippine economy were carried out including on agriculture, trade, sailing industry and others. The Manila Galleon sailed the Pacific loaded with all kinds of Asian riches: spices, delicate tapestries, silk and Chinese porcelain, perfumes from the East, Persian carpets, etc. Riches that were traded using the first world currency: the Spanish silver peso or REAL DE A OCHO, especially from 1576, when the Qing dynasty replaced paper moneyin China by Spanish pesos and silver: the load of the Spanish galleons became essential for the Chinese economy, whose silver was extracted from the mines of Mexico and Peru.

Mr Francisco Moreno, from Madrid (Spain) will explain us that It was nothing less than the first stable route of global trade: it was the FIRST GLOBALISATION.

In addittion we will enjoy of the presence of His Excellency Mr. Jaime Victor B. Ledda , Ambassador of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Belgium.

D o not miss out this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in this fascinating topic: join us on Thursday 7 December 2023 at 18:30 h at FCE- 51 Rue du Cornet, 1040, Brussels (Close to place Jourdan).

! Nos vemos pronto !

– Please not the Conference will be conducted in SPANISH-