During the first half of the project I conducted a broad archival research in a wide array of archives and libraries mainly but not only from Spain and Portugal. Most of this data collection has been conducted in the Archivo General de Indias (Seville), sections: Filipinas, Contaduría, Patronato Real, etc; Archivo General de Simancas (Valladolid) Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (Lisbon), sections: Conselho Ultramarino, Índia, Norte de Africa; Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo (Lisbon), sections: corpo cronologico, nucleo antigo, miscelâneas manuscritas do convento da Graça, etc.; Biblioteca da Ajuda (Lisbon). This intensive archival research allowed me to identify a series of frontier contexts particularly suited for the study of cross-cultural violence and its restraint. In the second phase of the project, the source materials previously gathered were subjected to an in-depth inquiry on the main factors sustaining violence restraint as well as those hindering the construction of a peaceful interaction after periods of unrestrained violence. I proceeded through an analysis of different processes of violence escalation and de-escalation that took place on the global frontiers of the Iberian empires. Special mention deserves the case study of Maluku. Placed at the crossroads of the frontiers of the Portuguese and Spanish settlements in maritime Southeast Asia, early modern Maluku offers a perfect ground from which to understand processes of violence restraint, either successful or failed. From this case study, comparisons were conducted to different peacebuilding and violent escalation processes from other frontier areas.
Throughout the 24 months of the action the project’s findings have been disseminated through academic presentations at a wide array of workshops, seminars and international conferences. Hence, seven academic presentations were delivered in Toronto, Madrid, Valencia, Lisbon, Naples, and Seville. I have organised an international workshop and an international conference in the host institution. In addition, the project’s results have been disseminated through a robust publication strategy that includes one journal article and four book chapters. Another two journal articles are under preparation.
In line with our firm commitment to communicate the results of our research to the general public, four public talks were given in different outreach events such as the local science week or the European Researchers’ Night, and four short articles for the general public were published in online newspapers and educational websites.
