Quest for empire

by Donald C. Cutter

Never before has the introduction of European culture to Native Americans been so fully explored as in Quest for Empire. In this balanced chronicle, not only is the conquest and exploitation of Indians measured, but also the indelible mark of Christianity and foreign skills left on Native cultures. This captivating portrayal of the Spanish legacy in the Southwest is as full of adventure and colorful characters as it is replete with historical detail. History comes alive as Donald Cutter and Iris Engstrand look at Spain's quest to establish an empire in the far Southwest - not as a matter of right or wrong, but as a matter of fact. Beginning with a description of the land and its peoples in the late fifteenth century, the authors trace the adventures, failures and successes of the Spanish soldiers, missionaries and settlers who introduced European culture to the south-western portion of what is now the United States. Although motives ranged from trying to discover the golden cities of m