Cycles of Conquest

by Edward Holland Spicer, Hazel Fontana (Artist)

Examines the effects of European expansion on the language, social structure, economy, religion, and self-image of Navajo, Yaqui, Papago, and other native American communities.

Genres: History, American History, Native American History, Native American, Nonfiction

623 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1962

Reviews

[Ian Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't help but think that this book was far ahead of its time. Spicer discusses the effects of what we would call settler colonialism today(not yet given that name and wasn't even an analytical tool when the book was written), on indigenous populations in the Southwest. It's a very comprehensive overview of various Native American groups in the Southwest from the early days of European contact to around 1960. This book still stands the test of time, being that its first printing was in 1962.

[Kallie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew, so much information. This was probably one of the first books I read that made very clear: our U.S.-Mexico border was entirely arbitrary for many indigenous groups. I also had zero idea how many Apache tribes existed, and the fraught relations between them and colonizers and missions.

[Christina Moodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the quintessential summation of everything you'd ever want to know about the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mex. Native Americans, at least up to 1960. Well worth the read and has me pondering and marveling at the changes with the people covered in the book in the last fifty years.

[James Prothero · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic historical text. Gives the Indian history of the SW and Mexico. Loved it.