Roots of Empire
Subtitle: Forests and State Power in Early Modern Spain, C. 1500-1750
Publisher: BRILL
Published: 2015
Language: eng
Number of pages: 281
ISBN-13: 9789004261372
Subjects: Forest policy; Forests and forestry; Shipbuilding; Spain, colonies; Imperialism; Spain, politics and government
Description: "Roots of Empire is the first monograph to connect forest management and state-building in the early modern Spanish global monarchy. The Spanish crown's control over valuable sources of shipbuilding timber in Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines was critical for developing and sustaining its maritime empire. This book examines Spain's forest management policies from the sixteenth century through the middle of the eighteenth century, connecting the global imperial level with local lived experiences in forest communities impacted by this manifestation of expanded state power. As home to the early modern world's most extensive forestry bureaucracy, Spain met serious political, technological, and financial limitations while still managing to address most of its timber needs without upending the social balance"--Provided by publisher.