Empire's End: Transnational Connections in the Hispanic World, 1808-1898

“Empire’s End: Transnational Connections in the Hispanic World, 1808-1898” will explore the concept of empire in the Spanish-speaking world in the nineteenth century, from the beginnings of the Independence Wars in the early 1800s to the loss of Spain’s last colonies—Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines—in the Spanish-American War of 1898.  The various speakers will consider, from a transnational perspective, the complex social, political, and cultural ramifications and consequences of the end of the Spanish empire for the Spanish-speaking world, thus producing new insights into the circuits of intellectual and cultural exchange between Spain and its former colonies. The scope of the conference will be broad-ranging and interdisciplinary, centering on crucial issues such as the mappings of the Hispanic Atlantic, race, human rights, and the legacies of empire, while showcasing the work of scholars in literature, cultural studies, history and art history.