Latest / The Rise of Colonialism: How Europe Divided the World — Fexingo History
The Manila Galleon: Silver, Silk, and the First Global Economy
While earlier episodes focused on conquest and spice, this episode explores how Europe's colonial rivalry created the first true global economy—through the Manila Galleons. Lucas and Luna trace the improbable route that linked Acapulco to Manila, carrying Mexican silver to China and returning silk, porcelain, and spices. They discuss the Chinese demand for silver that drove the whole system, the role of the Ming dynasty's tax reforms, and how the galleons became a lifeline for Spain's far-flung empire. Along the way, they touch on the brutal labor of indigenous Filipinos…
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