The Conquest of History: Spanish Colonialism and National Histories in the Nineteenth CenturyAs Spain rebuilt its colonial regime in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines after the Spanish American revolutions, it turned to history to justify continued dominance. The metropolitan vision of history, however, always met with opposition in the colonies. The Conquest of History examines how historians, officials, and civic groups in Spain and its colonies forged national histories out of the ruins and relics of the imperial past. By exploring controversies over the veracity of the Black Legend, the location of Christopher Columbus’s mortal remains, and the survival of indigenous cultures, Christopher Schmidt-Nowara’s richly documented study shows how history became implicated in the struggles over empire. It also considers how these approaches to the past, whether intended to defend or to criticize colonial rule, called into being new postcolonial histories of empire and of nations. |
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Academy of Spanish African Agustín Stahl Americas Antillean Antilles archipelago archives argued Barcelona Bartolomé Black Legend Blumentritt Brau Cádiz Cambridge Caribbean Casas Casas's Castelar Cesáreo Fernández Duro chronicles civilization colonial regime Columbus Columbus's remains commemoration creole Cristóbal Colón Cuba Cuba and Puerto Cuban culture defended descubrimiento Dominican Ediciones empire esclavitud España españoles European Exposición Fabié Fernando Filipino Fradera friars Havana Hispanic historians historiography Ibid imperial Imprenta Indians indios intellectual island islas Filipinas José Antonio Saco José Rizal liberal lumbus Madrid Manuel Martín Martínez metropolis Miguel monument Morga national history Navarrete nineteenth century Oviedo patriots Pérez Philippines Pinzón Política political Ponce de León prehistory Puerto Rico restos de Colón Revista Rican Ríos Royal Academy San Juan Santo Domingo Schmidt-Nowara siglo slave slavery Sociedad sought sources Spain Spaniards Spanish American revolutions Spanish conquest Spanish History Spanish monarchy Spanish nation Spanish rule symbols tion University Press W. E. Retana William Hickling Prescott World writings