Política imperial y administración de industrias estratégicas: la Armada española en el largo siglo XVIII. Introducción

Abstract This article deals with supply systems for cannons and ammunitions, those made of cast iron in particular, for the Spanish state in the eighteenth century. There is also a short reference to personal arms. Main subjects discussed are the continuity between seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the chronology of changes in the supply systems, and the imperial dimension of needs. Other topics are the import of cannons and ammunition, and technology failures as a factor for quality production and changes in supply methods. It is mainly and overview of present knowledge of the subject.Este trabajo trata de la provisión de armas de fuego, en particular las fabricadas con hierro colado, como son los cañones y su munición, en España, en el largo siglo XVIII. También se hará referencia a armas portátiles. Se estudia la continuidad entre los siglos XVII y XVIII, una cronología de los sistemas de provisión y la dimensión imperial de las necesidades. Se dedica atención a la importación de cañones y municiones, y a las limitaciones tecnológicas y de calidad que afectaron a los cambios en los modos empresariales de provisión. Se trata de una síntesis, unas líneas generales de lo que hoy sabemos.AbstractThis article deals with supply systems for cannons and ammunitions, those made of cast iron in particular, for the Spanish state in the eighteenth century. There is also a short reference to personal arms. Main subjects discussed are the continuity between seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the chronology of changes in the supply systems, and the imperial dimension of needs. Other topics are the import of cannons and ammunition, and technology failures as a factor for quality production and changes in supply methods. It is mainly and overview of present knowledge of the subject