The Empire and Spain

PART ONE: Lecture

The economics of the new empire.

PART TWO: DVD

For our second half this evening, we have an excellent DVD from National Geographic that discusses the Colombian Exchange: that is, the benefits and costs of the ecological and biological exchange that took place when the older culture of Europe met the more isolated cultures of the New World. It is called “America Before Columbus” but it is not really limited to conditions before Columbus. It also explores the results of the Columbian journeys for both the Western Hemisphere as well as Europe.

REQUIRED READING:

The Elliott book is our text for the whole quarter.

J. H. Elliott, Imperial Spain 1469-1716