Between the 1500s and the 1700s, historical documentation and record-keeping became widespread across many European nations, driven by the rise of literacy, the development of print technology, and the growing needs of bureaucracy.
The Spanish Empire, however, was known for its meticulous methods of record-keeping and preservation, mandating strict practices and laws about the handling and organization of such records. In other words, they were pioneers in tracking everything happening.
But because Spain became the first European country to claim territory in the Americas, its documents regarding its territories became increasingly important and, over time, valuable.
Countries we know now, such as Mexico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Chile, among others, have extensive historical archives containing documents from their time as Spanish territories, including historic events that we remember today.
Mexico’s historical archives, for example, reflect a complex history that encompasses pre-Hispanic traditions, colonial Spanish bureaucratic systems, and post-independence national records.
And yet, only a relatively small fraction of the Spanish colonial documents are fully transcribed and translated. We’re talking hundreds of millions of pages with information that may force us to reconsider what we know and teach.
There is still much that we don’t know.
So let this serve as a reminder, Jose, that there is still much left to unravel in a world that claims there’s nothing left to explore.
Go out. Venture beyond the known.
The world can’t wait any longer for your arrival.