The most thorough account ever written of southwestern life in the early seventeenth century; this engaging book was first published in 1630 as an official report to the king of Spain by Fray Alonso de Benavides; a Portuguese Franciscan who was the third head of the mission churches of New Mexico. In 1625; Father Benavides and his party traveled north from Mexico City to New Mexico; a strange land of frozen rivers; Indian citadels; and mines full of silver and garnets. Benavides and his Franciscan brothers built schools; erected churches; engineered peace treaties; and were said to perform miracles.Benavides’s riveting exploration narrative provides portraits of the Pueblo Indians; the Apaches; and the Navajos at a time of fundamental change. It also gives us the first full picture of European colonial life in the southern Rockies; the southwestern deserts; and the Great Plains; along with an account of mission architecture and mission life and a unique evocation of faith in the wilderness.
#2182291 in Books University of Missouri 2011-06-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x .90 x 6.13l; 1.18 #File Name: 0826219128256 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. White male historian writes a great book about an important African-American PatriotBy SoberMoneyAndrews has written an illuminatingly readable book about an important figure in African-American history. This Thyra Edwards biography is a powerful American story - a woman with more courage and intelligence in her little pinkie than most activist white women (or men for that matter) of her period.If there are any well regarded black movie directors/producers out there reading this review (Spike Lee; are your there?); they would do well to consider making an historical drama about Thyra Edwards; so that the late Edwards (and Professor Andrews) can get the historical credit they both so richly deserve.