The Philippine islands, 1493-1898 (Vol. 43, 1670-1700)

This volume is a critical part of a monumental 55-volume compilation that translated thousands of primary source documents from Spanish, Latin, and other languages into English to make Philippine history accessible to American and international scholars. The series, published in the early 20th century, spans the entire era of Spanish presence in the archipelago. This specific volume concentrates on the turbulent period between 1670 and 1700, focusing particularly on the efforts of the Dominican missionary order to expand the Catholic faith and establish permanent villages in regions like Zambal and Cagayan. The material details the methods of conversion, the conflicts with other religious orders, and the role of the colonial government and military in the missionary enterprise. Furthermore, it contains valuable ethnographic appendix sections that describe the enduring native superstitions and customs among various Filipino groups, providing a complex and nuanced view of the islands' political, religious, and social life during centuries of colonization.

The book is considered valuable. It is advised that researchers use digital copy rather than physical books for preservation purposes. APA Citation: Blair, E. H., & Robertson, J. A. (Eds.). (1906). The Philippine Islands, 1493–1898: Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts (Vol. 43: 1670–1700). Arthur H. Clark Company.