The History of Puerto Rico (The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations)

This book offers a concise yet comprehensive history of Puerto Rico, from the reign of Taino Indians through its centuries as a Spanish colony to its present-day standing as a thriving economic force in Latin America with a unique and ever-evolving relationship with the United States. Drawing on dramatic recent developments in research, The History of Puerto Rico offers the most up-to-date and fully realized exploration of the island's past for students, travelers, and general readers alike. The History of Puerto Rico ranges from the earliest indigenous settlements to the reign of the Taino, from the centuries under Spanish control through more than 100 years of life under the U.S. flag. Insightful and authoritative, the book helps readers understand the history behind Puerto Rico's complicated contemporary political status, its unique relationship with the United States, and the current efforts of Puerto Ricans to reclaim their indigenous and African heritage, leverage their bilingual culture for economic gain, and celebrate their cultural and artistic achievements. Contents......Page 6 Series Foreword......Page 8 Preface......Page 12 Timeline of Historical Events......Page 20 1 Puerto Rico and Its People......Page 28 2 Borinquen: Origins and Encounter (4000 BCE–1500 CE)......Page 34 3 Spanish Colony: From San Juan Bautista to Puerto Rico (1493–1800)......Page 54 4 Spanish Province: Autonomy Thwarted (1800–1898)......Page 78 5 U.S. Territory: Military Occupation and Civil Government (1898–1948)......Page 96 6 Commonwealth: The Freely Associated State of Puerto Rico (1948–1968)......Page 130 7 State of Transition: After Operation Bootstrap (1968–1998)......Page 140 8 Puerto Rico Today (1999–2009)......Page 150 Notable People in the History of Puerto Rico......Page 158 B......Page 164 E......Page 165 J......Page 166 P......Page 167 R......Page 168 Z......Page 169 Notes......Page 170 Bibliographic Essay......Page 174 C......Page 186 I......Page 187 P......Page 188 T......Page 189 Y......Page 190

Drawing on dramatic recent developments in research, The History of Puerto Rico offers the most up-to-date and fully realized exploration of the island's past for students, travelers, and general readers alike.

The History of Puerto Rico ranges from the earliest indigenous settlements to the reign of the Taino, from the centuries under Spanish control through more than 100 years of life under the U.S. flag. Insightful and authoritative, the book helps readers understand the history behind Puerto Rico's complicated contemporary political status, its unique relationship with the United States, and the current efforts of Puerto Ricans to reclaim their indigenous and African heritage, leverage their bilingual culture for economic gain, and celebrate their cultural and artistic achievements.

Drawing on dramatic recent developments in research, The History of Puerto Rico offers the most up-to-date and fully realized exploration of the islandÕs past for students, travelers, and general readers alike. The History of Puerto Rico ranges from the earliest indigenous settlements to the reign of the Taino, from the centuries under Spanish control through more than 100 years of life under the U.S. flag. Insightful and authoritative, the book helps readers understand the history behind Puerto Rico's complicated contemporary political status, its unique relationship with the United States Traces the history of Puerto Rico from the commonwealth's origins through the early twenty-first century, discusses Borinquen--Puerto Rican--culture, politics, and related topics; and provides brief biographies of notable people throughout Puerto Rico's history