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CS92PROD
The Spanish Empire in the Early Global Age: 15th-17th Centuries
COL 391
Fall 2012 not offered
Crosslisting: HIST 391, IBST 272

"The world is not enough"--with these words Philip II, king of Spain, expressed his idea of the first truly global empire: his own. Spain's imperial ambition had no limits: Philip II's monarchy was to encompass the planet and beyond, spearheading the conquest of Heaven itself. In fulfillment of what he saw as God's will, the Spanish monarch's messianic imperial vision sought to bring Christianity to the most distant confines of the earth, effectively extending his rule over lands scattered in four continents, from Spain to China.

The Spanish Empire appears to us medieval in its ideas about religion, law, and government and, at the same time, as a forerunner of modernity, giving rise to phenomena such as scientific exploration, cultural globalization, world capitalism, biologic and cultural crossbreeding, all in an unprecedented scale. This course will consider the Spanish imperial experience as a global history. Through art, literature, political writings, and memoirs, we will learn about its political practices, the everyday life of its subjects and rulers, and the ways in which they made sense of the world.
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS COL
Course Format: SeminarGrading Mode: Student Option
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Major Requirement for: (COL)(HIST-MN)(HIST)

Last Updated on MAR-19-2024
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