Nationalizing New World Knowledge: Natural History as a Tool of Empire in King Philip II's Spain
Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Producer
Director
Performer
Choreographer
Costume Designer
Music
Videographer
Lighting Designer
Set Designer
Crew Member
Funder
Rehearsal Director
Concert Coordinator
Advisor
Moderator
Panelist
Alternative Title
Department
Haverford College. Department of History
Type
Thesis
Original Format
Running Time
File Format
Place of Publication
Date Span
Copyright Date
Award
Language
eng
Note
Table of Contents
Terms of Use
Rights Holder
Access Restrictions
Haverford users only until 2025-01-01, afterwards Tri-College users only.
Terms of Use
Tripod URL
Identifier
Abstract
Upon inheriting the throne to Spain and its New World colonies in 1556, Philip II sought to expand his empire's presence in the Americas. Lacking the militaristic or political talents of his father Charles V, the last Holy Roman Empire, the newly crowned monarch explored other avenues of acquiring imperial power. Following the age old adage "Knowledge is power," Philip II devoted extensive Spanish resources to the study of natural history in the New World. The king enlisted Spanish scholars such as Juan López de Velasco, Francisco Hernández de Toledo and Sarmiento de Gamboa in the empirical description of Spain's holdings in the New World. Under the patronage of Philip II, the three scholars produced an unrivaled cache of knowledge regarding the New World's history across various disciplines: cosmography, botany and ethnography. Through his sponsorship of intellectual endeavors, Philip II fashioned himself as a philosopher-king reminiscent of Alexander the Great. However, his legacy extends far beyond this superficial label and shaped the discourse on Spain's intellectual traditions for centuries to come. Often relegated to the margins of discussions regarding European intellectualism, Spain's scientific endeavors merit further study. Philip II started Spain's retreat into intellectual isolationism as a defense mechanism against competing colonial powers. The natural histories compiled under Philip II's patronage permitted the weaponization of knowledge for the purpose of establishing authority in the New World. Seeking to protect this tool of empire from imperial rivals, namely England and France, Philip II instituted strict censorship policies regarding all knowledge of the Americas. With Spain's intellectual progress purposefully hidden from the rest of Europe, the country gained a reputation for supposed anti-intellectualism. However, Philip II's secrecy regarding Spain's knowledge of the New World enabled the Spanish Crown's establishment and maintenance of a dominating colonial presence in the Americas. This thesis examines the natural histories produced by López, Hernández and Sarmiento as calculated intellectual projects intended to solidify Spain's imperial presence in the New World.