Portuguese Merchants in the Manila Galleon System

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Villamar examines the role of Portuguese merchants in establishing the Manila Galleon trade system at the end of the sixteenth century. The rise of Manila as a key transshipment port was not accidental; it resulted from a complex interplay of circumstances that fostered the Manila Galleon system, which lasted from 1565 to 1815. The author analyzes the regulatory framework that governed Pacific trade, providing legality, predictability, and security for stakeholders. He explores the Spanish crown's strategy in Asia and the emergence of a network of Portuguese merchants in Manila engaged in long-distance trade. This informal community played a vital role from the inception of the Pacific trading system, linking Europe, Portuguese-controlled Asian ports, Spanish colonies in America, and Manila. The newly founded capital of the Philippines quickly became a hub, attracting existing Asian trade. By surveying Portuguese commercial networks from the 'Estado da India' across the 'Spanish lake,' the book offers insights into early modern globalization from a comprehensive Iberian perspective.