The Idea of Italy in Early Spanish Journalism (1678-1815)

This chapter examines the portrayal of Italy, and, in particular, Italian politics, economic news and culture from the dawn of the Spanish press up until the early nineteenth century. The first newspapers in Spain during the seventeenth century represented the initial steps towards the establishment of periodical news in the country and laid the groundwork for the future development of journalism and the dissemination of information in Spanish society. The eighteenth century witnessed a shift in the government's approach to the press, moving from stricter control in the previous century to greater tolerance and openness towards the dissemination of public information. Although the number of newspapers during this period was limited compared to the nineteenth century, their impact was significant in shaping the Spanish media landscape and reporting on Italian news.