Sing-a-long with Patrick - Free program for toddlers

Saturday, March 25 - Join, author, John T. Wing, Assistant Professor of History, College of Staten Island for an insightful talk about his book on forests and state power in Early Modern Spain.

While forest management and social balance may sound like modern concepts, the rulers of imperial Spain had considered them when managing timber stands at home and abroad, spurred by their need to sustain large ocean-going fleets. Roots of Empire examines the intersection of forest exploitation and the expansion of royal power in the global Spanish monarchy, presenting archival research that challenges the traditional portrayal of the Spanish as unable and uninterested in conserving its forests.

Roots of Empire explores how Spain’s rising imperial commitments led to long-term strategies of forest management in the Old World and the New, and offers new interpretations of conservation and resource management through the lens of the material challenges of state building. Light refreshments provided. This program is sponsored by Greener NYC. Registration required. Call 718-351-3450 or email naturecenter@sigreenbelt.org