“Strange Lands and Different Peoples”

W. George Lovell, Christopher H. Lutz, Wendy Kramer, William R. Swezey

"Guatemala emerged from the clash between Spanish invaders and Maya cultures that began five centuries ago. The conquest of these 'rich and strange lands,' as Hernán Cortés called them, and their 'many different peoples' was brutal and prolonged. "Strange Lands and Different Peoples" examines the myriad ramifications of Spanish intrusion, especially Maya resistance to it and the changes that took place in native life because of it. The studies assembled here, focusing on the first century of colonial rule (1524–1624), discuss issues of conquest and resistance, settlement and colonization, labor and tribute, and Maya survival in the wake of Spanish invasion. The authors reappraise the complex relationship between Spaniards and Indians, which was marked from the outset by mutual feelings of resentment and mistrust. While acknowledging the pivotal role of native agency, the authors also...