The Galleon Trade
The Galleon Trade
1565 - 1815
The Manila Galleon or “Nap de China” was the first route to sail through the Pacific Ocean as a link between Asia and America. Through this route, and after having colonized
Philippines, Spain controlled this commercial route for almost three centuries, uniting
Seville, Philippines and Mexico.
•
The Manila-Acapulco galleon trade began when the Augustinian friar, Andrés de
Urdaneta, sailing in convoy under Miguel
López de Legazpi, discovered a return route from Cebu City to Mexico in 1565.
•
The galleon trade started in the same year; the first galleon sailed from Cebu. Until 1593 there were two Philippine cities involved in the trade: Cebu and Manila.
•
The trade served as the main source of income for the Philippines colony until early
1800’s.
•
Although the trade was officially ended in
1815 due to the Mexican War of
Independence, the last of the galleons set sail in 1820.
Andres de Urdaneta
Known as the “longest shipping line in history,” a total of 110 galleons were used in the trade. 102 of the galleons were built in the Philippines while the other 8 in
Mexico.
2 were built in Cebu, some in Leyte, but most of the galleons were constructed in
Cavite.
The galleons were the largest class of ships known to have been built anywhere up to that time. In the 16th century, they averaged from 1,700 to 2,000 tons, were built of Philippine hardwoods and could carry a thousand passengers.
The Concepción, wrecked in 1638, was 43 to
49 m (140–160 feet) long and displacing some 2,000 tons. The Santísima Trinidad was 51.5 m long. right: shipyard in Cavite
Main Trade Routes of the Global Economy controlled by Spain and Portugal
How the Philippines was connected to Spain / Europe:
Manila – Acapulco, Mexico; Veracruz, Mexico – Seville, Spain
How Asia was connected to Manila:
China – Manila (Sampan Trade); Portuguese Macau - Manila
India, Persia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc. – Manila
How Africa was connected to the Spanish Empire:
1565 - 1815
The Manila Galleon or “Nap de China” was the first route to sail through the Pacific Ocean as a link between Asia and America. Through this route, and after having colonized
Philippines, Spain controlled this commercial route for almost three centuries, uniting
Seville, Philippines and Mexico.
•
The Manila-Acapulco galleon trade began when the Augustinian friar, Andrés de
Urdaneta, sailing in convoy under Miguel
López de Legazpi, discovered a return route from Cebu City to Mexico in 1565.
•
The galleon trade started in the same year; the first galleon sailed from Cebu. Until 1593 there were two Philippine cities involved in the trade: Cebu and Manila.
•
The trade served as the main source of income for the Philippines colony until early
1800’s.
•
Although the trade was officially ended in
1815 due to the Mexican War of
Independence, the last of the galleons set sail in 1820.
Andres de Urdaneta
Known as the “longest shipping line in history,” a total of 110 galleons were used in the trade. 102 of the galleons were built in the Philippines while the other 8 in
Mexico.
2 were built in Cebu, some in Leyte, but most of the galleons were constructed in
Cavite.
The galleons were the largest class of ships known to have been built anywhere up to that time. In the 16th century, they averaged from 1,700 to 2,000 tons, were built of Philippine hardwoods and could carry a thousand passengers.
The Concepción, wrecked in 1638, was 43 to
49 m (140–160 feet) long and displacing some 2,000 tons. The Santísima Trinidad was 51.5 m long. right: shipyard in Cavite
Main Trade Routes of the Global Economy controlled by Spain and Portugal
How the Philippines was connected to Spain / Europe:
Manila – Acapulco, Mexico; Veracruz, Mexico – Seville, Spain
How Asia was connected to Manila:
China – Manila (Sampan Trade); Portuguese Macau - Manila
India, Persia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc. – Manila
How Africa was connected to the Spanish Empire: