HA 305/505/550

In the early modern period, Spanish Monarchs controlled a vast empire, on which it was said that the sun never set. This course investigates artistic exchange and new visual forms resulting from the political structures, Catholic missions, and economic investments that supported Spanish global dominance. The forcible removal of Muslims and Jews in Iberia; the exploitation of silver mines at Potosí in modern-day Bolivia; and the royal sponsorship of a shipping route connecting Asia and Europe by way of Central America are just some of the ways in which Spanish monarchs shaped the development of art and culture on a global scale. We will study the art, architecture, and visual culture of the Spanish world in three modules focusing on Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Through lectures, readings, discussions, and assignments, we will consider the actions of those in power as well as those of Protestant, enslaved, Indigenous, and local communities who lived under Spanish rule. 

Cross-listed with LAC 315/515 and HIST 389/501