Science, technology, and the Spanish colonial experience in the nineteenthcentury

Nineteenth-century Spain-using the resources that remained of its vast empi re-struggled to maintain its place as an international power. Following the loss of its colonies on the American continent, however, it could assume o nly a modest imperial presence. This loss occurred at precisely the time th at the country, lagging behind other European powers, was taking its first tentative steps toward industrialization and modernization. The delay in mo dernizing, along with Spain's still quite modest scientific and technologic al capacities, made it impossible for the country to become anything more t han a spectator during the age of great imperial adventures. As the century closed, Spain, disillusioned, faced the crisis of 1898.