La contribución del Nuevo Mundo al nacimiento de las ciencias paleontológicas

This paper presents an approach to the contribution of the New World to the birth and consolidation of paleontological sciences, with special emphasis on the scientific relationship between Spain and its American colonies. American fossil findings powerfully influenced the paradigm changes that took place in the natural sciences among the Modern Age and the beginnings of the Contemporary Age. American Scientifics were not only dedicated to the discovery and sending of samples to the European institutions for their study, but also made their own interpretative theories and carried out innovative and pioneering contributions in the knowledge about the Geology of America.The scientific dialogue between Spain and its colonies was interrupted after the Wars of Emancipation. Resumen: Este trabajo presenta una aproximación a la contribución del Nuevo Mundo al nacimiento y consolidación de las ciencias paleontológicas, haciendo especial énfasis en la relación científica entre España y las colonias americanas. Los hallazgos de fósiles americanos influyeron poderosamente en los cambios de paradigma que tuvieron lugar en las ciencias naturales entre la Edad Moderna y los inicios de la Edad Contemporánea. Los estudiosos americanos no se limitaron al descubrimiento y envío de muestras a las instituciones europeas para su estudio, sino que formularon sus propias teorías interpretativas y llevaron a cabo aportaciones novedosas y pioneras en el campo de la geología americana. El diálogo científico entre la España y sus colonias se vio interrumpido tras las Guerras de Emancipación.Abstract: This paper presents an approach to the contribution of the New World to the birth and consolidation of paleontological sciences, with special emphasis on the scientific relationship between Spain and its American colonies. American fossil findings powerfully influenced the paradigm changes that took place in the natural sciences among the Modern Age and the beginnings of the Contemporary Age. American Scientifics were not only dedicated to the discovery and sending of samples to the European institutions for their study, but also made their own interpretative theories and carried out innovative and pioneering contributions in the knowledge about the Geology of America.The scientific dialogue between Spain and its colonies was interrupted after the Wars of Emancipation