THE HISPANIC MONARCHY IN THE FACE OF RUSSIAN ADVANCES IN THE NORTH PACIFIC: COMMERCIAL IMPLICATIONS AND ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES

Abstract

In this article we examine Russia’s advances into the North Pacific lands of America and the reaction of the Hispanic Monarchy to this situation. The first Russian expeditions to the easternmost part of Siberia date back to the 1600s and were always based on commercial objectives, especially in the field of fur trading. However, the first significant attempt to make possible settlements and explore the connection between the continent of Asia and America were the two expeditions made by the danish Bering in the period from 1725 to 1750. During these explorations, the Russians learned of the existence of the connection from East Asia to America, although always by sea and not by land as it was believed. Likewise, the conclusions drawn by the Russians were how hard and complicated these expeditions were due to the climate and the remoteness. The Hispanic Monarchy, given its status as the first world power, and its consequent structure of ambassadors for the most important European Courts, is warned from Moscow by the different ambassadors, of the expeditions that the Russians were making through American lands, lands that obviously, the Spaniards considered as ours. Thus, Spain, through its territories in Mexico, began to send expeditions to make settlements so that the Russians would understand that these were occupied territories.