His concise historical overview is ful John L. In ‘Pueblo, Spaniards and the Kingdom of New Mexico,’ Kessell presents the most accessible and engaging account of the history of seventeenth-century New Mexico available in print. ![]() ![]() Kessell is a well-respected historian and best known for his work, ‘Kiva Cross and Crown’ (National Park Service, 1979) and as lead editor for the outstanding volumes of ‘The Journals of don Diego de Vargas, 1691-1704’(University of New Mexico Press, 1989-2002, 7 volumes). ![]() Even if the author was convinced of the questionable choice to not critically examine the racial, social, and economic consequences of imperialism and colonialism, the book would have been far stronger if Kessel had simply stuck to writing a straightforward historical narrative without inserting dubious kumbaya.more There are similar examples of explicitly papering over these difficult relationships throughout the book. Or even the conclusion of "they continue to do so today", which completely papers over ongoing social and land claim conflicts between indigenous peoples and Spanish/Mexican populations from the 16th century up to today. Or the fact that many of the Puebloans who grew fed up with the Spaniards simply moved among the independent Hopi and Navajo (which the author discusses!). This seems like an odd conclusion, given that the previous 100 pages had been spent discussing by my count at least 6 separate phases of war and rebellion. More by experience than by plan, more by peaceful exchange than by war, they had learned to live together yet apart. However, I criticize the fact that the author seems to treat the Spanish-Pueblo relationship as that between "neighbors" and "cousins", setting up an almost buddy-buddy description of what was always a fundamentally exploitative colonial regime.įor example, towards the end of the book on page 175 "seventeenth-century Pueblos and Spaniards had worked out the basis of a dynamic coexistence. For example, towa This is actually a pretty gripping narrative of historical events in Spanish New Mexico - the book focuses entirely on exploring the individuals involved, the differences between the Pueblos, factions, alliances, diplomacy, battles, etc. However, I criticize the fact that the author seems to treat the Spanish-Pueblo relationship as that between "neighbors" and "cousins", setting up an almost buddy-buddy description of what was always a fundamentally exploitative colonial regime. This is actually a pretty gripping narrative of historical events in Spanish New Mexico - the book focuses entirely on exploring the individuals involved, the differences between the Pueblos, factions, alliances, diplomacy, battles, etc. Pueblos, Spaniards, and the Kingdom of New Mexico is the definitive account of a volatile era.more ![]() Kessell clearly describes the Pueblo world encountered by Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate and portrays important but lesser-known Indian partisans, all while weaving analysis and interpretation into the flow of life in seventeenth-century New Mexico.īrimming with new insights embedded in an engaging narrative, Kessell’s work presents a clearer picture than ever before of events leading to the Pueblo Revolt. Beginning with the first permanent Spanish settlement among the Pueblos of the Rio Grande in 1598, he proposes a set of relations more complicated than previous accounts envisioned and then reinterprets the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 and the Spanish reconquest in the 1690s. Setting aside stereotypes of a Native American Eden and the Black Legend of Spanish cruelty, he paints an evenhanded picture of a tense but interwoven coexistence. Kessell has written the first narrative history devoted to the tumultuous seventeenth century in New Mexico. Setting aside For more than four hundred years in New Mexico, Pueblo Indians and Spaniards have lived “together yet apart.” Now the preeminent historian of that region’s colonial past offers a fresh, balanced look at the origins of a precarious relationship.John L. For more than four hundred years in New Mexico, Pueblo Indians and Spaniards have lived “together yet apart.” Now the preeminent historian of that region’s colonial past offers a fresh, balanced look at the origins of a precarious relationship.John L.
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