Editorial

Itinerario, vol. 49, pp. 1–2

Abstract

The year 2025 marks a transformative milestone in the history of Itinerario.With this inaugural issue of the year, the journal transitions to an online-only format, ceasing its print publication.While we regret the discontinuation of the print edition, we are delighted that this transition enables another significant change: Itinerario will now be entirely open access.This development not only aligns with the evolving landscape of academic publishing but also substantially broadens the journal's reach and inclusivity.This transition has profound implications for both the readers and contributors.For readers, the online open-access model eliminates financial and logistical barriers, democratising access to the journal's content.Scholars and students from underrepresented regions and institutions with limited financial resources can now fully engage with the scholarship published in Itinerario.This shift represents a crucial step towards fostering global intellectual equity, allowing a wider audience to participate in the dialogues and debates facilitated by the journal.For authors, this change aligns with emerging academic cultures that prioritise accessibility and global engagement.Institutional open-access agreements, the Cambridge Open Equity Initiative, and Research4Life support Itinerario's commitment to innovative, curiosity-driven research.In this way, the journal will continue to offer a dynamic platform for both emerging and established scholars.By amplifying contributions from diverse academic backgrounds, regional contexts, and methodological approaches, Itinerario aspires to serve as a nexus for constructive global scholarly dialogue.This issue exemplifies the journal's dedication to showcasing diverse perspectives on global and imperial histories, spanning from the sixteenth century to the present and covering nearly all continents.The articles included herein engage with a wide array of themes, from entanglements of empires and trade networks to the intersections of local and global histories.Cameron J. G. Dodge contributes a compelling analysis of the Atlantic logwood trade (1550-1775), tracing its evolution from piracy to mechanisation and examining its impact on ecological and industrial developments on both sides of the Atlantic.Ryan Holroyd's article explores the transformations in Chinese-Sulawesian trade connections and the emergence of Makassar as a critical entrepôt in Southeast Asia.Stan Pannier investigates the trans-imperial ventures of Romberg & Cons., an Austrian Netherlands-based company engaged in the Spanish slave trade.Maritime spaces also serve as the setting for two further articles.Nicholas Roberts explores how political entrepreneur Rahmah bin Jabirin shaped the international order of the Gulf, while Martin Biersack examines botanical espionage across the eighteenth-century Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.

Authors 2

1. Cátia A.P. Antunes corresponding Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Anne-Isabelle Richard Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands