5th Marianas History Conference Day 1 - 3

Page 181

Panel: Mid-Spanish Period

Fortifications as Geometric Machines

Marianas During the Early Modern Period

By Dr. Pedro Luengo

Universidad de Sevilla

Abstract: Previous studies has addressed the building process of fortifications in Guam during the early modern period, from the first attempts in 1671, reaching a significative number of structures before the early 19th century, located in Umatac (Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Fort Santo Angel, Fort San Jose, Nuestra Señora de la Soledad), Hagåtña (Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and San Fernando/San Rafael), Orote (Fort Santiago, Fort San Luis, Fort Santa Cruz) and a battery in Merizo. While much archival work has been done, including plans from Spanish archives in Madrid and Seville, a formal comparison with contemporary cases in Southeast Asia and America is still required. From the recent publications on the topic, this paper aims to provide a new interpretation of these projects entangled with other territories. At the same time, other aspects will be included in the discussion such as gunnery availability, their probable shot range and the general design considering the geographical context, especially reefs and water depths. As a result, the historical interpretation will explain the relationship of these islands with the global flows of the time.

Fortifications are one of the most noteworthy heritage elements of the Spanish period still preserved in Guam. For this reason, previous studies have addressed them using both archival material and their ruins1. In addition to a few studies specifically focused on them, their close relationship with the island’s history have ensured their inclusion in other, more general, historical approaches2. Thanks to these efforts, most of the archival material has been identified and connected with the history of the island’s Spanish settlement. On the 1

Driver, Marjorie G. and Omaira Brunal-Perry. Architectural Sketches of the Spanish Era Forts of Guam. Mangilao, GU: University of Guam Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center, 1994; Driver, Majorie G. Cross, Sword, and Silver: The Nascent Spanish Colony in the Marianas. Mangilao, GU: University of Guam Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center, 1993; Degadillo, Yolanda, Thomas B. McGrath, S.J. and Felicia Plaza, M.M.B. Spanish Forts of Guam. Publication Series 7. Mangilao, GU: University of Guam Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center, 1979.

2

Driver, Majorie G. Fray Juan Pobre in the Marianas 1602. MARC Miscellaneous Series 8. Mangilao, GU: University of Guam Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center, 2004; Galván Guijo, Javier. Islas del Pacífico: el legado español. Madrid: Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, 1998; Pozuelo Mascaraque, Belén. Presencia y Acción españolas en las Islas Marianas (1828-1899). Tesis Doctoral. Madrid: 1997; Del Valle, Teresa. The Importance of the Mariana Islands to Spain at the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century. Educational Series 11. Mangilao, GU: University of Guam Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center, 1991.


Articles inside

The History of Understanding Whales in our Waters article cover image

The History of Understanding Whales in our Waters

1min
pages 105-113
Sea-Lanes of Antiquity article cover image

Sea-Lanes of Antiquity

1min
pages 75-101
Valuing our Ancestral Knowledge in the Seafaring System article cover image

Valuing our Ancestral Knowledge in the Seafaring System

1min
pages 65-72
Places Without Names and Names Without Places? article cover image

Places Without Names and Names Without Places?

1min
pages 33-62
Solidarity Foods article cover image

Solidarity Foods

1min
pages 9-14
The Dawn of America’s Pacific Empire article cover image

The Dawn of America’s Pacific Empire

1min
pages 279-310
Jesuit Presence in the Mariana Islands article cover image

Jesuit Presence in the Mariana Islands

1min
pages 211-246
Fortifications as Geometric Machines article cover image

Fortifications as Geometric Machines

1min
pages 181-210
Marianas on Display article cover image

Marianas on Display

1min
pages 249-278
Governor Jose Ganga Herrero article cover image

Governor Jose Ganga Herrero

1min
pages 247-248
Manila Galleon Shipwrecks  article cover image

Manila Galleon Shipwrecks

1min
pages 179-180
Reporting on the Marianas and Their Inhabitants in Early 18th-century Germany article cover image

Reporting on the Marianas and Their Inhabitants in Early 18th-century Germany

1min
pages 171-178
The Chamorro Village of Guam after Resettlement article cover image

The Chamorro Village of Guam after Resettlement

1min
pages 143-170
If Magellan had Balutan article cover image

If Magellan had Balutan

1min
pages 115-142
Fatto Famalao’an article cover image

Fatto Famalao’an

1min
pages 15-16
Pakaka i Pachot-mu! CHamoru Yu’! article cover image

Pakaka i Pachot-mu! CHamoru Yu’!

1min
pages 17-18
Pacific Ocean: A 500 Year-old Word article cover image

Pacific Ocean: A 500 Year-old Word

1min
pages 21-32
Interpreting an Authentic Chamorro Sakman from the Historic Record article cover image

Interpreting an Authentic Chamorro Sakman from the Historic Record

1min
pages 73-74
Exploring Latte in the Marianas article cover image

Exploring Latte in the Marianas

1min
pages 63-64
Of Songs of Birds and Whales, How Much Must We Lose? article cover image

Of Songs of Birds and Whales, How Much Must We Lose?

1min
pages 103-104
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