Galleon Trade

The Galleon Trade was a major maritime commerce network during the 16th to 18th centuries, mainly connecting Spain’s colonies in the Americas with Asia through the Philippines. Spanish galleons carried silver from the Americas to Asia, where it was exchanged for valuable goods like spices, silk, and porcelain. These ships then returned to Spain, facilitating global trade and economic growth. The trade relied on long, risky sea voyages, played a key role in the first global economic system, and helped expand cultural and commercial connections between Europe, Asia, and the Americas.