November 2024
Commerce, mobility and intercultural exchanges in a transregional framework
ARTicles
Along the Shoreline of southeastern africa: coastal Towns, circuit of trade and enslaving operations, 1790-1860
Abubacar Fofana León ([email protected])
The coastal towns and islands departure points in southeastern Africa from which enslaved African people were transported to regional and long-distance markets are at the center of this research article. The coastal trade routes, the littoral and islands societies and the multiple networks of workers engaged in the trade of goods and people are discussed here to interrogate the development, fluctuations, and significance of the enslaving operations linked to the enslaved “Mozambiques” workers who departed the African continent from the southeastern coast. Two main questions are discussed: How did the organization of the traffic on the coast of southeastern Africa connect to other coastal enslaving zones in the region of eastern Africa and with other intra-oceanis markets located in both the Indian and Atlantic oceans? And did the pattern change over time?
The coastal towns and islands departure points in southeastern Africa from which enslaved African people were transported to regional and long-distance markets are at the center of this research article. The coastal trade routes, the littoral and islands societies and the multiple networks of workers engaged in the trade of goods and people are discussed here to interrogate the development, fluctuations, and significance of the enslaving operations linked to the enslaved “Mozambiques” workers who departed the African continent from the southeastern coast. Two main questions are discussed: How did the organization of the traffic on the coast of southeastern Africa connect to other coastal enslaving zones in the region of eastern Africa and with other intra-oceanis markets located in both the Indian and Atlantic oceans? And did the pattern change over time?
L'exemple de sèrbia en el naixement de l'independentisme polític català (1912-1918)
Frederic J. Porta ([email protected])
The article traces the example of Serbia in the birth process of Catalan political independence movement. During the two Balkan wars (1912-1913) and the Great War (1914-1918), Serbia emerged for several reasons as an example towards which the hopes and aspirations of the separatists sheltered under the umbrella of the Unió Catalanista were projected. The Serbian example contributed to the radicalization of political space that immersed in a crisis and transformation that would culminate in the formation of the first pro-independence political organizations during the final crisis of the Restoration regime. The distance and the little knowledge about the Balkan country allowed the idealizations and mythologies of a country and its nationalist movement to unravel. It would not be until the transformation of the Irish example between 1918 and 1919 that the Serbian example would become obsolete. (Paper in Catalan)
The article traces the example of Serbia in the birth process of Catalan political independence movement. During the two Balkan wars (1912-1913) and the Great War (1914-1918), Serbia emerged for several reasons as an example towards which the hopes and aspirations of the separatists sheltered under the umbrella of the Unió Catalanista were projected. The Serbian example contributed to the radicalization of political space that immersed in a crisis and transformation that would culminate in the formation of the first pro-independence political organizations during the final crisis of the Restoration regime. The distance and the little knowledge about the Balkan country allowed the idealizations and mythologies of a country and its nationalist movement to unravel. It would not be until the transformation of the Irish example between 1918 and 1919 that the Serbian example would become obsolete. (Paper in Catalan)
Assaigs
EL tránsito de la "ropa de china" hacia la ciudad de méxico durante las primeras décadas del siglo XVIII
Jocelyn Anaid Mondragon Parra ([email protected])
During the colonial era, Asian textiles such as cotton and silk were highly desirable in America. Clothing confectioned from a variety of Asian fabrics but that belonged to the Western tradition was generically called “clothes from China”. This name is analyzed in this essay as a category with two non-exclusive meanings. On the one hand, these “Chinese clothes” were elaborated in Asia and later shipped to New Spain through the transpacific route. On the other hand, Asian fabric was manufactured by novo-Hispanic tailors and this clothing was sold inside the viceroyalty and to the south of the continent. This text reflects the commercialization of “Chinese clothes” in Mexico City during the eighteenth century through commercial litigations. (Paper in Spanish)
During the colonial era, Asian textiles such as cotton and silk were highly desirable in America. Clothing confectioned from a variety of Asian fabrics but that belonged to the Western tradition was generically called “clothes from China”. This name is analyzed in this essay as a category with two non-exclusive meanings. On the one hand, these “Chinese clothes” were elaborated in Asia and later shipped to New Spain through the transpacific route. On the other hand, Asian fabric was manufactured by novo-Hispanic tailors and this clothing was sold inside the viceroyalty and to the south of the continent. This text reflects the commercialization of “Chinese clothes” in Mexico City during the eighteenth century through commercial litigations. (Paper in Spanish)
Las criadas españolas como pasajeras en los viajes transatlánticos a nueva españa, 1580-1699
Diana Patricia Orta Gómez ([email protected])
The historiography of Spanish female migration in the Americas has an outstanding topic to be analyzed: the study of maids as passengers on the large ships that sailed the Atlantic destined for the Spanish overseas domains. These women constituted a heterogeneous group in terms of social origins, backgrounds and domestic-labour expertises. In this essay, by means of a new optic of passenger licenses, Spanish maids will be characterized and their social conditions on transatlantic voyages will be studied. (Paper in Spanish)
The historiography of Spanish female migration in the Americas has an outstanding topic to be analyzed: the study of maids as passengers on the large ships that sailed the Atlantic destined for the Spanish overseas domains. These women constituted a heterogeneous group in terms of social origins, backgrounds and domestic-labour expertises. In this essay, by means of a new optic of passenger licenses, Spanish maids will be characterized and their social conditions on transatlantic voyages will be studied. (Paper in Spanish)
por una descolonización de la historia global. una respuesta a bruce gilley, elvira roca barea y sebastian conrad
Javier García Fernández ([email protected])
This essay examines the tensions and dialogues between the new global history and postcolonial and decolonial studies, highlighting the persistence of Eurocentrism in contemporary historiography. Through a critical analysis of the recent works of historians such as Sebastian Conrad, Roca Barea, and Bruce Gilley, it observes a reaffirmation of Eurocentric narratives that minimize the relevance of emerging critical theories from the Global South. While some scholars attempt to articulate an approach that bridges global history and postcolonial theories, these efforts often lack a genuine commitment to the voices of racialized and migrant populations. Furthermore, the practice of epistemic extractivism is emphasized, wherein critical concepts are appropriated without proper acknowledgement of their origins. To advance towards a truly inclusive historiography, it is essential to reconcile global perspectives with postcolonial theories, fostering a critical dialogue that integrates diverse experiences. This process involves recognizing the importance of decolonizing history and promoting a more nuanced understanding of the past, one that not only reflects Eurocentric narratives but also incorporates the multiple voices and experiences that have shaped global history. (Paper in Spanish)
This essay examines the tensions and dialogues between the new global history and postcolonial and decolonial studies, highlighting the persistence of Eurocentrism in contemporary historiography. Through a critical analysis of the recent works of historians such as Sebastian Conrad, Roca Barea, and Bruce Gilley, it observes a reaffirmation of Eurocentric narratives that minimize the relevance of emerging critical theories from the Global South. While some scholars attempt to articulate an approach that bridges global history and postcolonial theories, these efforts often lack a genuine commitment to the voices of racialized and migrant populations. Furthermore, the practice of epistemic extractivism is emphasized, wherein critical concepts are appropriated without proper acknowledgement of their origins. To advance towards a truly inclusive historiography, it is essential to reconcile global perspectives with postcolonial theories, fostering a critical dialogue that integrates diverse experiences. This process involves recognizing the importance of decolonizing history and promoting a more nuanced understanding of the past, one that not only reflects Eurocentric narratives but also incorporates the multiple voices and experiences that have shaped global history. (Paper in Spanish)
Reviews
Porta i Capdevila, Frederic J.; Fermí Rubiralta i Casas; Fèlix Villagrassa i Hernàndez. Josep Dencàs i Puigdollers. El conseller maleït (1900-1966). Base, 2024. Ressenyat per David Martínez Fiol
Fleck, Xavier. El segón Reich i Catalunya. Alemanya vista des de la cultura i la política catalanes entre 1890 i 1914. Afers, 2024. Ressenyat per Víctor López Mirabet
Boumediene, Samir. La colonisation du savoir. Une histoire des plantes médicinales du Nouveau Monde (1492-1750). Gallimards, 2022. Ressenyat per Jorge García García.
