The Forgotten Fleet: Spain's Pacific Empire

Everyone knows about Spanish gold from the Americas, but what about the other ocean? In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Spain's Pacific empire — a vast network of trade, conquest, and cultural exchange that stretched from Acapulco to Manila and beyond. They follow the Manila Galleon's perilous annual voyage, the founding of Manila by Miguel López de Legazpi, and the role of Chinese merchants and silver in creating the first truly global economy. They also uncover the story of the tornaviaje, the discovery of the return route across the Pacific, and the forgotten figure of Andrés de Urdaneta, the Augustinian navigator who made it possible. From the galleon's construction in the Philippines to its arrival in Mexico with silks, spices, and porcelain, this episode reveals how Spain's Pacific ambitions shaped the world as much as its Atlantic ventures. #ManilaGalleon #PacificEmpire #MiguelLopezDeLegazpi #AndresDeUrdaneta #Tornaviaje #Acapulco #Manila #SpanishEmpire #SilverTrade #Philippines #GlobalTrade #Galleon #NewSpain #FriarNavigators #ColonialHistory #MaritimeHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo