A clear, authoritative look at the beginning of Mexican history
This volume surveys the conquest of Mexico and the early viceroyal period, drawing on a vast store of archives, documents, and contemporary sources to illuminate a pivotal era.
The project frames the conquest as a turning point in Latin American history, detailing how European power, native civilizations, and colonial policy intersected to shape New Spain. It also situates the broader arc of Mexican history within three centuries of rule, independence, and nation-building, while weighing competing narratives with care and depth.
- A coherent, field‑defining account of the conquest and its aftermath.
- Extensive use of primary sources, archives, and documentary collections.
- Critical discussion of how later historians have interpreted the events and evidence.
- Context for the emergence of Mexico as a major cultural and political force.
Ideal for readers of Mexican history, colonial Latin America, and anyone seeking a rigorous, documentary approach to the birth of modern Mexico.