Balbuena's epic poem about Mexico was published just over thirty years after the opening of Spanish trade with Asia (via Manila and Acapulco) and indicates an intellectual self-awareness in Mexico of its role as a major crossroads within the new global trade network. With the conquest and occupation of the Philippines by Spain in 1565, Spain finally had its own long-desired trade route to Asia and no longer had to rely on the Portuguese-dominated route around the tip of Africa. In 1573, the famous galleon fleets began to sail annually from Manila to Acapulco laden with exotic trade goods such as porcelain, silks, and spices. There the goods were off-loaded onto mules for the long journey overland to the east coast of Mexico where in Veracruz they were again loaded onto ships for the trip across the Atlantic to Spain; or inland to Mexico City, as capitol of the viceroyalty of New Spain, for local consumption and distribution.

Since Spain's main trade artery with Asia crossed Mexico, the area served as the pivot point for all consumer goods from Asia bound for Spain as well as to all the Spanish colonies in the Americas.