Culture shock is defined as "the physical and emotional discomfort one suffers when coming to live in another country or a place different from the place of origin". In this document the emotional discomfort of culture shock is explored....

Two men wrote accounts of how San Antonio got its name. See excerpts from their journals with explanation and discussion.

Read about Cabeza de Vaca, one of the first Europeans to extensively explore Texas after an accidental landing at Galveston Island.

The Spanish gained an early foothold in the colonies, quickly becoming the most powerful European power in the New World.

When the Spanish Crown (the monarchy) learned of the promise of wealth offered by vast continents that had been previously unknown to Europeans, they sent forces to colonize the land, convert the indigenous populations, and extract...

The Florentine Codex contains an unparalleled wealth of information regarding the people and culture of central Mexico immediately preceding the Conquest and its discussion of the Conquest itself. View pictures and descriptions of the...

A collection of articles from foreign newspapers about America and American policies, translated into English from their languages of origin. These articles give readers a view of America from abroad. Site includes both English...

Learn about the Spanish war effort during the American Revolution and how it helped change the course of the war. Spanish governor Bernando De Galvez also had a hand in the contribution, making him a hero.

Nearly 100 years before the American Revolution, another war of independence took place on American soil -- against Spanish colonizers. Coordinated by Tewa leader Po'Pay, the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 saved Indigenous cultures from...

This article details the history and way of life of the Apaches in Texas. It describes their interactions with the Spanish explorers, how they were treated like slaves at the Spanish missions, and how their resentment drove them to...

After the Conquest, Spanish colonizers' first task was to convert the indigenous peoples to Christianity and eliminate their religious beliefs. Painted murals within their missions demonstrate the great fear and urgency of the...

The Atrial Cross at Acolman offers a fascinating look into the interactions between Spanish friars and Nahua converts in the years directly following the conquest of Mexico. View pictures and descriptions of the cross and the Augustinian...

Spanish content; this article looks at the image and importance of the jaguar in pre-columbian art and in particular the Aguada culture of present day Argentina.

Spanish content; this article looks at prehispanic pottery and ceramic work from cultures in the region of Argentina.

Acoma Pueblo is home to one of the best-preserved early mission churches in the United States - San Esteban del Rey. View pictures of this church and read about the history in this essay.

Mission churches, which followed a similar architectural plan but varied in terms of decoration, are among the earliest examples of colonial architecture. View pictures and read the history of these mission churches, or conventos, in New...

The Franciscan monastery of Huejotzingo is a landmark in the development of sixteenth-century art in central Mexico. View pictures of this mission and read details about the architectural elements in this essay.