The Comanche EmpireIn the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, a Native American empire rose to dominate the fiercely contested lands of the American Southwest, the southern Great Plains, and northern Mexico. This powerful empire, built by the Comanche Indians, eclipsed its various European rivals in military prowess, political prestige, economic power, commercial reach, and cultural influence. Yet, until now, the Comanche empire has gone unrecognized in American history.This compelling and original book uncovers the lost story of the Comanches. It is a story that challenges the idea of indigenous peoples as victims of European expansion and offers a new model for the history of colonial expansion, colonial frontiers, and Native-European relations in North America and elsewhere. Pekka Hamalainen shows in vivid detail how the Comanches built their unique empire and resisted European colonization, and why they fell to defeat in 1875. With extensive knowledge and deep insight, the author brings into clear relief the Comanches remarkable impact on the trajectory of history." |
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Albuquerque alliance American Anza Apache Austin bands Berlandier bison border borderlands buffalo Cachupín captives century ches Cheyennes Chihuahua Coahuila colonial Coman Comanche chiefs Comanche nation Comanche Political History Comanche raids Comanche rancherías Comanchería commercial Concha Cuerno Verde cultural early eastern economic Ecueracapa empire expansion Frontier gifts Governor Hasinais herds horses and mules hunting imperial John José Juan Kiowa Kotsotekas Lipans livestock Llano Estacado Louisiana Mendinueta Mexican Mexico City Mézières military Native Nebraska Press Norman North northern Mexico Oklahoma Press Osages paraibos Pawnees peace Pecos PINM Plains Indian province Quote rancherías Red River Report Río Río Grande Salcedo San Antonio SANM Santa Fe sess settlers slaves social societies southern plains Southwest Spain Spaniards Spanish officials Spanish Texas Taos Taovayas territory Texas Tonkawas treaty tribes U.S. Army University of Oklahoma University Press upper Arkansas Utes valley villages war bands West western Comanches Wichitas women Yamparika