Early Modern Spanish Cultural History: One Opinion*

Abstract This article offers some summary reflections on the present state of the cultural history of early modern Spain. Cultural history now flourishes, and while the signs of this are to be found far and wide, certain areas have distinguished themselves as fields of study: the history of political thought; of printing, books, and the cultural practices of reading and writing; of science and medicine; and of religion. At the same time, certain problems can be detected, not least of which is the scant presence of cultural themes in the disciplinary history taught within Spanish universities. Still, present trends augur well for the future of cultural history as a specific – and still quite innovative – approach to the Hispanic past.