Spanish Texas, 1519–1821

Professor (Emeritus) Chipman has written an excellent book that is highly informative, impressively researched, thoughtfully organized, and well written. Although its approach is in some ways dated, particularly the parts in the last chapter about the effects of Spanish Missions on Indigenous Texans (and in its dated bias about the Spanish, Indigenous AND AFRICAN roots of Tejanos), the strengths of this book far outweigh the shortcomings. Although this book could not have been written without the pioneering work of people such as Carlos Castaneda, this is the best "single" source available on this subject and will probably not be surpassed for many years to come.

Drawing on vast resources contained in the United States and Spain, this work covers the rich and long early history of the region now known as Texas. Spain controlled this land for over three centuries, before losing it to Americans who moved in to start a new life in the West. Spanish conquistadors, as well as their successes and defeats, make for a fascinating read all by themselves. The book documents their struggles with the French to the east (Louisiana), and how even the early empires feared the newly independent colonies of Great Britain, the United States. The research that went into this book was complete...and it shows. Those interested in the early history of the New World and of Texas are not likely to find a better resource anywhere.