Panorama naval ibérico en los siglos XVI y XVII: Antecedentes, desarrollo, innovaciones y aplicación bélica

Abstract

The Iberian nations held control of the seas from the late 15th century up to the second half of the 17th century through a clear leadership in nautical architectural innovations. The main target of this article is to approach the issue of the Spanish maritime technological development in the 16th and 17th centuries. To do so, the information is divided into three parts, starting with a brief introduction to navigation at the beginning of Modern Age together with the human, scientific and technical elements that made it possible. After this prelude, the bulk of the article examines different aspects of the Hispanic Navy, offering an overall view through the contributions of the numerous authors mentioned. Finally, an analysis of its application to naval warfare is presented from a tactical and technological perspective, since its development supposed the genesis of modern naval war and defined the geopolitical balance of the subsequent centuries.