1535: Hernán Cortés lands in Baja California and claims it for Spain
1542: Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo claims Alta California for Spain
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo set off on an expedition to discover the “Strait of Anián,” a supposedly easy northwest passage between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, connecting New Spain to Asia. In fact, the strait does not exist. But during the voyage, Cabrillo’s crew made numerous stops along the Pacific coast, recording information about native people encountered and the physical landscape of California observed. Cabrillo’s landing at San Miguel Bay (present-day San Diego Bay) resulted in his legacy as “the founder of Alta California.”
1571–1815: Manila Galleon Trade takes place
Global trade in Manila began in 1571, with the foundation of a Spanish colony in the Philippines. Large galleon ships carried goods between Spanish Mexico and Manila, and ships originating in Spain, China, and Japan all utilized Manila as an intermediary point of transit. By the beginning of the 1600s (seventeenth century), 100,000 kilograms of silver from New Spain passed through Manila each year and produced huge profits when traded, particularly in China. While the Manila galleon trade had a short burst of success, with a peak in the 1780s and early 1790s, its prosperity did not endure. The ultimate downfall of Manila galleon trade in the late 1790s through the early 1800s (19th century) occurred because the empires involved were more concerned with local sovereignty than global expansion in the early 1600s (17th century). Ming China and Azuchi-Momoyama/early Tokugawa Japan were both especially focused on socio-political stability at home, while Habsburg Spain had a fragile governmental structure at the time and did not have the permanent settlers necessary to fully invest money and effort in Manila. By the early 1800s (nineteenth century), Ferdinand VII was overthrown by Napoleon, resulting in chaos for the Spanish colonies, and shortly after returning to power, put a stop to Manila galleon trade. In 1815 the last ship involved in this trade system reached Manila, and the era of Manila galleon trade was over.
Inspired by the story "Las Sergas de Esplandián" (The Adventures of Esplandián), by Garci Ordóñez de Montalvo, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés sought "an island on the right hand of the Indies." He landed on a peninsula, which he claimed for Spain and named California, after the fictional realm recounted by Montalvo.
1542: Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo claims Alta California for Spain
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo set off on an expedition to discover the “Strait of Anián,” a supposedly easy northwest passage between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, connecting New Spain to Asia. In fact, the strait does not exist. But during the voyage, Cabrillo’s crew made numerous stops along the Pacific coast, recording information about native people encountered and the physical landscape of California observed. Cabrillo’s landing at San Miguel Bay (present-day San Diego Bay) resulted in his legacy as “the founder of Alta California.”
1571–1815: Manila Galleon Trade takes place
Global trade in Manila began in 1571, with the foundation of a Spanish colony in the Philippines. Large galleon ships carried goods between Spanish Mexico and Manila, and ships originating in Spain, China, and Japan all utilized Manila as an intermediary point of transit. By the beginning of the 1600s (seventeenth century), 100,000 kilograms of silver from New Spain passed through Manila each year and produced huge profits when traded, particularly in China. While the Manila galleon trade had a short burst of success, with a peak in the 1780s and early 1790s, its prosperity did not endure. The ultimate downfall of Manila galleon trade in the late 1790s through the early 1800s (19th century) occurred because the empires involved were more concerned with local sovereignty than global expansion in the early 1600s (17th century). Ming China and Azuchi-Momoyama/early Tokugawa Japan were both especially focused on socio-political stability at home, while Habsburg Spain had a fragile governmental structure at the time and did not have the permanent settlers necessary to fully invest money and effort in Manila. By the early 1800s (nineteenth century), Ferdinand VII was overthrown by Napoleon, resulting in chaos for the Spanish colonies, and shortly after returning to power, put a stop to Manila galleon trade. In 1815 the last ship involved in this trade system reached Manila, and the era of Manila galleon trade was over.
Last updated: November 17, 2018