Manila galleon
Galeón Andalucía during their stay in Puerto de Huelva 14 February, 2010
As a Manila galleon (Spanish: Galeón de Manila ) refers to a Spanish ship, which at the time of the Spanish colonial empire got trade between Manila, the capital managed by New Spain than subcolony Philippines, and Acapulco.
Term and type
The name refers not to a specific Galeonentyp but to the output port of Manila, departed from the laden of the goods from the Far East ( for example, precious stones, spices, porcelain, silk) ships usually once a year to Acapulco, where they turn silver took on board and brought back to the acquisition of far Eastern goods. The term galleon was also used further than even this type of ship was not built with its building tradition in Spain.
The trade route
Although already drove from 1565 regularly ships from the Philippines to New Spain, but the shipping on the Manila- Acapulco route began after the conquest of Manila by Miguel López de Legazpi in 1570th The amount of trade was strictly limited by the Spanish Crown. Thus, the annual volume of trade in 1595 to 300 t in 1702 and limited to 500 tonnes. This trading volume could cover one or two galleons. The associated with the independence of Mexico in 1821, the Viceroyalty of New Spain resolution also meant the end for the Manila- Acapulco route. Of the 108 galleons ( 1565-1815 ), the journey usually took several times over the course of 250 years, 30 were lost, only 4 of which were captured by privateers.
Hunger and disease, especially that of the Spaniards referred to as " Dutch disease " scurvy, made the men of the Manila galleons on the long, at least two -month journey to creating regularly. In the 1630s, 105 crew members were thrown overboard by the crew, so the others could escape the threat of starvation on two galleons. In 1657, the Manila galleon " San Jose " was discovered on the coast near Acapulco; on board were the corpses of starved and died of thirst. In the hold they found lots of silk that should be shipped from Asia to America. Reached the galleons with their silver charges not Manila, the local merchants could not trade with the Chinese drive, as they had to offer nothing interesting except that the precious metal. Suffered the galleons on their way back shipwreck, could the goods for which the Spaniards had paid in America Silver, do not reach Acapulco. So was trading in Manila, the intersection of Chinese and Spanish trade network, completely paralyzed, as in 1638 and 1639 successively fell three galleons or run aground, including the Nuestra Señora de la Concepción.
Modern replica
A modified replica is the Galeón Andalucía. Your maiden voyage it has led to the World Exhibition in Shanghai and then to Manila in 2010. The travel route and the current location is published on the Internet.