The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 94, July 1990 - April, 1991 Page: 504

Southwestern Hzstorzcal Quarterly

Editors Jerald Milanich and Susan Milbrath of the Florida Museum
of Natural History at Gainesville have assembled in thirteen chapters
contributions on various topics from anthropologists, archaeologists,
and historians. The editors also present their own monographs in the
first and last chapters, the final one being Milbrath's "Old World Meets
New: Views across the Atlantic," an interesting portrayal of European
perceptions and myths of the New World and its Amerindians. In two
well-written chapters historian Eugene Lyon supplies useful new infor-
mation on the "Nifta, Ship of Discovery" and "Pedro Menindez's Plan
for Settling La Florida." In the latter, he clearly explains Menendez's
grand strategy "to defend and exploit the land by means of seas and
inlets" (p. 152). As a seaman, Menendez concentrates upon defending
La Florida by fortifying its ports, a concept that reveals him as a precur-
sor of the ideas of Alfred Thayer Mahan. Archaeologist Kathleen
Deagan and anthropologist Edward Chaney provide an excellent chap-
ter, based on archaeological and historical sources, pertaining to "St.
Augustine and the La Florida Colony: New Life-styles in a New Land."
Other chapters discuss the controversial landfall of Columbus on his
first voyage, the search for La Navidad and the archaeology of Puerto
Real (both in today's Haiti), the de Soto and Tristan de Luna expedi-
tions, and archaeological discoveries in Florida and Georgia (for ex-
ample, Anhaica and Coosa).
The book is handsomely printed in large type and on high-quality
paper. It is profusely illustrated with maps and both color and black-
and-white photographs of the land and its peoples. Although there are
no footnotes, there is a "selected reference" section to aid the reader.
Those interested in Texas history will find information on the expedi-
tions of Alonso Alvirez de Pineda and Luis de Moscoso.
Overall the editors and authors maintain objectivity, thoroughness,
and up-to-date information on both their subjects and controversies
that surround them. They have fully achieved their purpose. Not only
have they shown the impact of Spaniards upon Amerindians, but they
have demonstrated that historians, archaeologists, and anthropologists
working together can advance our knowledge of a specific region and
period. Most of all they can communicate the results of their multi-
disciplinary research to the general reader.
St. Mary's Unzversity OAKAH L. JONES
In Search of a Home: Nineteenth-Century Wendzsh Immzgratzon. By George
R. Nielsen. (College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1989.
Pp. xiv+213. Preface, maps, tables, photographs, appendix, notes,
index. $19.95.)

504