Shipwreck in the Early Modern Hispanic World

During the Spanish Empire, seafaring activity for trade and travel was dominant, and the specter of shipwreck loomed large in the worldview and imagination of its inhabitants. Shipwreck in the Early Modern Hispanic World explores this preoccupation by examining portrayals of nautical disasters in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Spanish literature and culture. The essays collected here showcase shipwrecks symbolic deployment to question colonial expansion and transoceanic trade, critique the Christian enterprise overseas, signal the collapse of dominant social order, and relay moral messages and represent socio-political debates. The contributors find examples in poetry, theater, narrative fiction, and other print artifacts and approach the topic variously through the lens of historical, literary, and cultural studies. Ultimately, this analytically rich volume demonstrates how shipwrecks shaped and destabilized perceptions of the Spanish Empire worldwide.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 206 pages
Publication date: 14 January 2022
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Throughout the Spanish Empire, seafaring activity for trade and travel held a predominant position, permeating the worldview and imagination of its inhabitants. The specter of shipwreck loomed large, casting a shadow over the maritime realm. In the Early Modern Hispanic World, a collection of essays delves into this profound fascination, exploring the representations of nautical disasters in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Spanish literature and culture. These essays showcase the symbolic deployment of shipwrecks to challenge colonial expansion, critique Christian enterprise abroad, signal the collapse of dominant social orders, and convey moral messages and engage in socio-political debates. Contributors employ a diverse range of analytical lenses, drawing from historical, literary, and cultural studies, to examine the topic. Through their meticulous analysis, the contributors demonstrate how shipwrecks not only shaped but also destabilized perceptions of the Spanish Empire across the globe. This analytically rich volume stands as a groundbreaking contribution to Hispanic studies, offering the first in-depth exploration of the darker side of mercantile and imperial expansion through maritime disaster.

Shipwreck in the Early Modern Hispanic World explores this preoccupation by examining portrayals of nautical disasters in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Spanish literature and culture. The essays collected here showcase shipwrecks symbolic deployment to question colonial expansion and transoceanic trade; to critique the Christian enterprise overseas; to signal the collapse of dominant social order; and to relay moral messages and represent socio-political debates. The contributors find examples in poetry, theater, narrative fiction, and other print artifacts, and approach the topic variously through the lens of historical, literary, and cultural studies. Ultimately demonstrating how shipwrecks both shaped and destabilized perceptions of the Spanish Empire worldwide, this analytically rich volume is the first in Hispanic studies to investigate the darker side of mercantile and imperial expansion through maritime disaster.

Weight: 254g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781684483709