The Spanish Galleon Trade: Acapulco to Manila and the Birth of Global Commerce

In this episode of The Rise of Colonialism, Lucas and Luna explore the trans-Pacific galleon trade that connected Spanish America with Asia for 250 years. They trace the route from Acapulco to Manila, where silver from Potosí was exchanged for Chinese silks, porcelains, and spices. The conversation covers the establishment of Manila as a Spanish entrepôt by Miguel López de Legazpi in 1571, the role of the Chinese merchant community (Sangley) in the city, and the brutal conditions aboard the galleons. They also discuss the economic impact on both sides of the Pacific, including the drain of silver to China and the rise of a global currency—the Spanish dollar. The episode touches on the Real Situado, the subsidy that kept the Philippines afloat, and the eventual decline of the galleon trade in the 19th century. Lucas explains how this early global trade network foreshadowed modern supply chains and economic interdependence. #GalleonTrade #ManilaAcapulco #SpanishEmpire #SilverTrade #GlobalCommerce #Sangley #Legazpi #RealSituado #Potosí #MingDynasty #Philippines #ColonialEconomics #TransPacific #SpanishDollar #AgeOfSail #History #FexingoHistory #WorldHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo