This manual covers "Experiencing Nature: The Spanish American Empire and the Early Scientific Revolution" by Antonio Barrera-Osorio, published by University of Texas Press in 2010. This work delves into the sixteenth century, examining the Spanish Empire's engagement with the natural world in the Americas. It highlights the development of empirical science, the commodification of natural resources, and the institutionalization of navigational and information-gathering practices. The book explores how the search for commodities and the ecological transformation of the New World contributed to the Scientific Revolution, overturning medieval understandings of nature and facilitating empire building.
The purpose of this manual is to provide comprehensive information regarding the historical context and scientific developments discussed within the book. It details key themes such as empirical science, empire building, and the use of natural resources, alongside specific Spanish institutions like the Casa de la Contratación. This resource is designed for students, researchers, and anyone interested in the intersection of history, science, and exploration during the early modern period, offering insights into the Spanish contribution to the Scientific Revolution through their practices in the Americas.
As Spain colonized the Americas during the sixteenth century, Spanish soldiers, bureaucrats, merchants, adventurers, physicians, ship pilots, and friars explored the natural world, gathered data, drew maps, and sent home specimens of America's vast resources of animals, plants, and minerals. This amassing of empirical knowledge about Spain's American possessions had two far-reaching effects. It overturned the medieval understanding of nature derived from Classical texts and helped initiate the modern scientific revolution. And it allowed Spain to commodify and control the natural resources upon which it built its American empire.In this book, Antonio Barrera-Osorio investigates how Spain's need for accurate information about its American colonies gave rise to empirical scientific practices and their institutionalization, which, he asserts, was Spain's chief contribution to the early scientific revolution. He also conclusively links empiricism to empire-building as he focuses on five areas of Spanish activity in America: the search for commodities in, and the ecological transformation of, the New World; the institutionalization of navigational and information-gathering practices at the Spanish Casa de la Contratación (House of Trade); the development of instruments and technologies for exploiting the natural resources of the Americas; the use of reports and questionnaires for gathering information; and the writing of natural histories about the Americas.
Author: Barrera-Osorio, Antonio
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Illustration: N
Language: ENG
Title: Experiencing Nature: The Spanish American Empire and the Early Scientific Revolution
Pages: 00000 (Encrypted EPUB)
On Sale: 2010-01-01
SKU-13/ISBN: 9780292709812
Category: Science : History
As Spain colonized the Americas during the sixteenth century, Spanish soldiers, bureaucrats, merchants, adventurers, physicians, ship pilots, and friars explored the natural world, gathered data, drew maps, and sent home specimens of America's vast resources of animals, plants, and minerals. This amassing of empirical knowledge about Spain's American possessions had two far-reaching effects. It overturned the medieval understanding of nature derived from Classical texts and helped initiate the modern scientific revolution. And it allowed Spain to commodify and control the natural resources upon which it built its American empire.In this book, Antonio Barrera-Osorio investigates how Spain's need for accurate information about its American colonies gave rise to empirical scientific practices and their institutionalization, which, he asserts, was Spain's chief contribution to the early scientific revolution. He also conclusively links empiricism to empire-building as he focuses on five areas of Spanish activity in America: the search for commodities in, and the ecological transformation of, the New World; the institutionalization of navigational and information-gathering practices at the Spanish Casa de la Contratación (House of Trade); the development of instruments and technologies for exploiting the natural resources of the Americas; the use of reports and questionnaires for gathering information; and the writing of natural histories about the Americas.
Author: Barrera-Osorio, Antonio
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Illustration: N
Language: ENG
Title: Experiencing Nature: The Spanish American Empire and the Early Scientific Revolution
Pages: 00000 (Encrypted EPUB)
On Sale: 2010-01-01
SKU-13/ISBN: 9780292709812
Category: Science : History
