Description
Conflicts and Tensions in the Port Societies of the Northern Peninsula (16th-19th Centuries)
Book Summary
This collective work addresses a significant historiographical gap: the study of the port societies of the northern Iberian Peninsula during the Early Modern period. Through rigorous analysis, the book examines the conflicts and tensions that defined life in these maritime enclaves between the 16th and 19th centuries, offering a renewed perspective on Spanish maritime and naval history. The reader will find a detailed study that goes beyond naval policy to delve into the social, economic, and labor dynamics of communities that were key to the history of Spain.
What is it about?
The book starts from the observation that Spanish maritime and naval history has traditionally been less studied than that of other European powers. Addressing this deficit, the work brings together recent research that explores the complex reality of the port societies of the northern peninsula. The authors analyze how these spaces were settings for continuous tensions derived from the organization of labor, supplies for the Navy, shipbuilding, and power struggles between different social actors. Far from a purely institutional approach, the text focuses on the people, daily conflicts, and dynamics that shaped life in strategic ports, offering a more human and complete vision of the maritime Spain of that era.
Main Themes
- Social history of the port communities of northern Spain (16th-19th centuries).
- Labor conflicts and work organization in arsenals and shipyards.
- Naval policy and human resource management (crews, levies, and supplies).
- Institutional tensions and power struggles in maritime enclaves.
- Spanish naval historiography and a critical review of its limited development.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at historians, researchers, and university students specializing in modern history, maritime and naval history, as well as those interested in the social and economic history of Spain. It will also be of great value to history enthusiasts with an advanced reading level who are looking for a rigorous and updated academic analysis of the dynamics of the port societies of the Ancien Régime.
What this book contributes
- It contributes to filling a historiographical gap regarding Spanish maritime history, offering new perspectives for analysis.
- It provides a social and human focus, moving away from the traditional institutional study of naval policy.
- It brings together current and reference research (articles, monographs, and theses) in a single volume.
- It offers a detailed analysis of the conflicts and tensions that defined life in the ports of the northern peninsula.
Technical Data
- Author: GARCIA HURTADO, MANUEL-REYES; VALLEDOR AR
- Publisher: Universidade da Coruña. Servizo de Publicacions
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: NAVIGATION AND SEAFARING
- Collection: MONOGRAPHS
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: December 2022
- Number of pages: 420
- Weight: 850 g
Editorial Assessment
This is a reference work for those seeking a deep and updated analysis of the maritime history of northern Spain. Its value lies in the authors' ability to address an underexplored field from a social and conflict-oriented perspective, transcending classical institutional approaches. It is an essential read for specialists and a valuable resource for any academic library focused on modern Spanish history.