What was the Manila galleon between the Philippines and Mexico?
The Manila galleon
El galeón de Manila
1565–1815. In 1565 Miguel López de Legazpi's expedition from Mexico reached Cebu, and the friar-navigator Andrés de Urdaneta found the way back: north to the latitude of…
Where: The whole Spanish-speaking world, Mexico, Philippines
What happened
In 1565 Miguel López de Legazpi's expedition from Mexico reached Cebu, and the friar-navigator Andrés de Urdaneta found the way back: north to the latitude of Japan and east on the westerlies to Acapulco, a route the galleons used for 250 years. Legazpi founded Manila on 24 June 1571, and from then until 1815 one or two great ships a year crossed the Pacific. Westbound they carried Mexican and Peruvian silver, up to three million pesos a voyage; eastbound Chinese silk and porcelain, spices, Indian cotton and Persian carpets, sold at Acapulco for many times their cost. The voyage from Manila took about six months and killed many on board. The Philippines were governed from Mexico, and the trade tied Asia, America and Spain into one economy.
Say it
El galeón de Manila cruzaba el Pacífico con plata y seda.
The Manila galleon crossed the Pacific with silver and silk.
Why it matters
It made Spanish an Asian language for three centuries and left thousands of Spanish words in Tagalog and the Chavacano creole; the Mexican peso became the first global currency, used in China.
Read about it
Connected
- The Columbian exchange (1492–1800)
- Elcano sails round the world (6 September 1522)
- Elcano sails round the world (6 September 1522)
- The Viceroyalty of New Spain is created (1535)
- The Viceroyalty of New Spain is created (1535)
- Silver is found at Potosí (1545)
- Silver is found at Potosí (1545)
- Silver and the first global trade (1545–1800)
- Before: Friars write the first grammars of American languages
- After: Bernal Díaz writes his True History
Sources
- Manila Galleon — World History Encyclopedia
- Miguel López de Legazpi (Research Starters) — EBSCO
- Spanish Treasure Fleets — World History Encyclopedia