Whitewashing the Dutch Atlantic

摘要

While on a research trip in July 2013,1 walked into the museum for the Archivo General de Indias (AGI) in Seville, Spain, in order to browse the season's exhibits. The museum is situated in the shadows of the famous gothic Catedral de Sevilla, whose glorious church bells hold visitors in line for what seems like days at a time. Despite the Starbucks across the street, and the flamboyantly modern design of a government tourist agency next door, the plaza resembled many I had visited throughout Spanish-speaking America. This plaza was different, however, as the buildings-from the restaurants to the Catedral and the archive-were all in pristine condition, a reflection, no doubt, of the large sums of money that is spent on their maintenance.