| Description |
1 online resource (xxviii, 535 pages) : maps |
| Series |
Chronicles of the New World order |
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Chronicles of the New World order.
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e-Duke books scholarly collection.
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| Contents |
Machine generated contents note: Introduction to Jose de Acosta's Historia Natural y Moral de las Indias -- Printing permission granted by King Philip II -- Printing permission granted by Gonzalo Davila, Society of Jesus -- Content approval granted by Fray Luis de Leon -- Dedication to the infanta Dona Isabel Clara Eugenia de Austria -- Paper tax ordered by Christobal de Leon -- Book I -- 1. Of the opinion held by some authors that the heavens did not extend to the New World -- 2. How the heavens are round everywhere and rotate around themselves -- 3. How Holy Writ gives us to understand that the earth is in the midst of the universe -- 4. In which a response is given to what is alleged in Scripture against the heavens being round -- 5. Of the shape and appearance of the heavens in the New World -- 6. How the world has both land and sea in the direction of both poles -- 7. Which refutes the opinion of Lactantius, who said that there were no antipodes -- 8. Of Saint Augustine's motives in denying the antipodes -- 9. Of Aristotle's opinion of the New World and what it was that caused him to deny it -- 10. How Pliny and most of the ancients believed the same as Aristotle -- 11. How some mention of this New World is found in the ancients -- 12. What Plato believed concerning these West Indies -- 13. How some have believed that in Holy Scripture Ophir is this Peru of ours -- 14. What Tarshish and Ophir mean in Scripture -- 15. Of the prophecy of Abdias, which some say concerned these Indies -- 16. How the first men could have come to the Indies and how they did not sail purposely to these parts -- 17. Of the properties and remarkable virtue of the lodestone in navigation and how the ancients did not know of it -- 18. Which answers those who believe that in ancient times the ocean was crossed as in our day -- 19. How it may be believed that the first inhabitants of the Indies came there brought by storms and against their will -- 20. How it is more reasonable to believe that the first dwellers in the Indies came by land -- 21. How wild beasts and domestic animals crossed to the lands of the Indies -- 22. How the race of Indians did not come by way of Atlantis, as some believe -- 23. How the opinion of many, who believe that the Indians come from the race of the Jews, is false -- 24. Why there is no sure way to establish the Indians' origin -- 25. What the Indians are wont to say about their origin -- Book II -- 1. Which will deal with the nature of the equinoctial line, or equator -- 2. What caused the ancients to have no doubt that the Torrid Zone was uninhabitable -- 3. How the Torrid Zone is very wet, and how in this the ancients were much mistaken -- 4. How outside the Tropics there is more rain when the sun draws father away, which is the reverse of the Torrid Zone -- 5. How in the Tropics the rains come in summer, or time of heat, and the calculation of winter and summer -- 6. How the Torrid Zone has a great abundance of water and vegetation, though Aristotle denies it -- 7. Which deals with the reason why the sun, outside the Tropics, causes rain when it is most distant, and in the Tropics the reverse, when it is nearest -- 8. How what is said of the Torrid Zone must be understood -- 9. How the Torrid Zone is not excessively hot but only moderately so -- 10. How the Torrid Zone's heat is tempered by the abundance of rain and the brevity of the days -- 11. How in addition to the causes mentioned there are other reasons why the Torrid Zone is temperate, especially the proximity of the Ocean Sea -- 12. How the higher lands are colder and the reason for this -- 13. How cool winds are the chief reason why the Torrid Zone is temperate -- 14. How life in the equatorial region is very agreeable -- Book III -- 1. How the natural history of the Indies is pleasant and enjoyable -- 2. Of winds and their differences and properties and causes in general -- 3. Of some properties of the winds that blow in the New World -- 4. How easterly winds always blow in the Torrid Zone and outside it both westerlies and easterlies -- 5. Of the differences between easterlies and southwesterlies and other kinds of winds -- 6. Why there is always an east wind for sailing in the Torrid Zone -- 7. Why westerly winds are more usually found when leaving the Torrid Zone, at higher latitudes -- 8. Of exceptions to be found in the rule just expressed and the winds and calms that exist on sea and land -- 9. Of some wonderful effects of winds in parts of the Indies -- 10. Of the ocean the surrounds the Indies and of the Northern and Southern Seas -- 11. Of the Strait of Magellan and how it was crossed on its southern side -- 12. Of the strait that some say exists in Florida -- 13. Of the properties of the Strait of Magellan -- 14. Of the ebb and flow of the Ocean Sea in the Indies -- 15. Of the different fish and methods of fishing of the Indians -- 16. Of the pools and lakes that are found in the Indies -- 17. Of various fountains and springs -- 18. Of rivers -- 19. Of the general nature of the earth in the Indies -- 20. Of the properties of the land of Peru -- 21. Of the reasons given as to why it does not rain on the plains -- 22. Of the properties of New Spain and the islands and the other lands -- 23. Of undiscovered regions and the difference of a whole day between east and west -- 24. Of volcanoes or vents of fire -- 25. Why the fire and smoke of these volcanoes persists for so long -- 26. Of earthquakes -- 27. How earth and sea clasp one another -- Book IV -- 1. Of the three kinds of mixtures that will be dealt with in this history -- 2. Of the abundance of metals that exist in the Indies -- 3. Of the kind of land where metals are found, and how in the Indies all the metals are not worked, and how the Indians used metals -- 4. Of the gold that is produced in the Indies -- 5. Of the silver of the Indies -- 6. Of the mountain of Potosi and its discovery -- 7. Of the wealth that has been taken, and is still being taken daily, from the mountain of Potosi -- 8. How the mines of Potosi are worked -- 9. How silver ore is refined -- 10. Of the wonderful properties of quicksilver -- 11. Where quicksilver is found and how rich mines of it were discovered in Huancavelica -- 12. How quicksilver is extracted and how silver is refined with its use -- 13. Of the machinery for grinding ore and assaying silver -- 14. Of emeralds -- 15. Of pearls -- 16. Of bread in the Indies, and maize -- 17. Of yucca and cassava, and potatoes and chuno and rice -- 18. Of different roots that grow in the Indies -- 19. Of different kinds of greenstuffs and vegetables, and of those called cucumbers, and pineapples and Chilean strawberries, and plums -- 20. Of aji, or Indies pepper -- 21. Of the plantain -- 22. Of cocoa and coca -- 23. Of maguey, tunal, and cochineal and of indigo and cotton -- 24. Of mameys and guavas and alligator pears -- 25. Of chicozapote and anomas and capolies -- 26. Of different kinds of fruit trees, and of coconuts and Andes almonds, and Chachapoyas almonds -- 27. Of various flowers, and some trees that bear only flowers, and how the Indians use them -- 28. Of balsam -- 29. Of liquidambar and other oils and gums and drugs that are brought from the Indies -- 30. Of the great forests of the Indies and of cedars and ceibas and other large trees -- 31. Of the plants and fruit trees that have been brought to the Indies from Spain -- 32. Of grapes and vines and olives and mulberries and sugarcane -- 33. Of sheep and cattle -- 34. Of some European animals that the Spaniards found in the Indies and how they might have come -- 35. Of birds that exist in Europe and how they came to the Indies -- 36. How it can be possible that there are animals in the Indies not found in any |
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Other part of the world -- 37. Of birds native to the Indies -- 38. Of game animals -- 39. Of micos, or the monkeys of the Indies -- 40. Of the vicunas and tarugas of Peru -- 41. Of alpacas and guanacos and the sheep of Peru -- 42. Of bezoar stones -- Book V -- 1. How the devil's pride and envy have been the cause of idolatry -- 2. Of the kinds of idolatries used by the Indians -- 3. How there is some knowledge of God among the Indians -- 4. Of the first sort of idolatry, that of natural and universal things -- 5. Of the idolatry practiced by the Indians with particular things -- 6. Of another kind of idolatry with the dead -- 7. Of the superstitions that were employed with the dead -- 8. Of the funeral rites that the Mexicans and other nations used -- 9. Of the fourth and last kind of idolatry that the Indians, especially the Mexicans, used with images and statues -- 10. Of a strange kind of idolatry that was practiced by the Mexicans -- 11. How the devil has tried to copy God in methods of sacrifices and of religion and sacraments -- 12. Of the temples that have been found in the Indies -- 13. Of the splendid temples of Mexico -- 14. Of the priests and the offices they performed -- 15. Of the monasteries of virgins that the devil invented for his service -- 16. Of the monasteries of religious that the devil possesses for his superstition -- 17. Of the penances and austerities that the Indians practiced at the devil's behest -- 18. Of the sacrifices the Indians made to the devil, and of what they consisted -- 19. Of the sacrifices of men that they made -- 20. Of the horrible sacrifices of men that the Mexicans performed -- 21. Of another kind of human sacrifice that the Mexicans performed |
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Note continued: 22. How the Indians themselves were exhausted and could not endure the cruelties of their gods -- 23. How the devil has tried to mimic the sacraments of Holy Church -- 24. How the devil tried in Mexico to mimic the feast of Corpus Christi and the communion used by Holy Church -- 25. Of the confession and confessors used by the Indians -- 26. Of the abominable unction used by the Mexican priests and those of other nations and of their sorcerers -- 27. Of other ceremonies and rites of the Indians that are similar to ours -- 28. Of some festivals that the Indians of Cuzco had and how the devil also tried to imitate the mystery of the Holy Trinity -- 29. Of the festival of rejoicing celebrated by the Mexicans -- 30. Of the merchants' festival performed by the Cholulans -- 31. benefit that can be drawn from an account of the Indians' superstitions -- Book VI -- 1. How the opinion of those who believe that the Indians lack understanding is false -- 2. Of the method of calculating time and the calendar that the Mexicans used -- 3. Of the method of counting years and months used by the Incas -- 4. How no nation of Indians has been found to have the use of letters -- 5. Of the kinds of letters and books that the Chinese use -- 6. Of universities and studies in China -- 7. Of the kinds of letters and writing that the Mexicans used -- 8. Of the memory aids and reckonings used by the Indians of Peru -- 9. Of the order the Indians maintain in their writings -- 10. How the Indians dispatched their messengers -- 11. Of the government and monarchs that they had -- 12. Of the government of the Inca kings of Peru -- 13. Of the distribution that the Incas made of their vassals -- 14. Of the buildings and construction methods of the Incas -- 15. Of the Inca's revenues and the order of tributes he imposed on the Indians -- 16. Of the trades that the Indians learned -- 17. Of the posts and chasquis that the Inca used -- 18. Of the laws and justice and punishments that the Incas imposed and of their marriages -- 19. Of the origin of the Incas, lords of Peru, and their conquests and victories -- 20. Of the first Inca and his successors -- 21. Of Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui and what happened up to the time of Huayna Capac -- 22. Of the great Inca named Huayna Capac -- 23. Of the last successors of the Incas -- 24. Of the kind of commonwealth that the Mexicans had -- 25. Of the different ranks and orders of the Mexicans -- 26. Of the Mexicans' way of fighting and the military orders that they had -- 27. Of the Mexicans' great care and diligence in bringing up their youth -- 28. Of the Indians' dances and festivities -- Book VII -- 1. Why it is important to know of the Indians' deeds, especially those of the Mexicans -- 2. Of the ancient dwellers in New Spain and how the Nahuatlacas came there -- 3. How the six Nahuatlaca clans settled the land of Mexico -- 4. Of the departure of the Mexicans and their route and the founding of Michoacan -- 5. Of what befell them in Malinalco and in Tula and Chapultepec -- 6. Of the war they waged with those of Culhuacan -- 7. Of the founding of Mexico -- 8. Of the rebellion of Tlatelolco and the first king chosen by the Mexicans -- 9. Of the strange tribute paid by the Mexicans to the Azcapotzalcans -- 10. Of the second king and what befell him during his reign -- 11. Of the third king, Chimalpopoca, and of his cruel death and the cause of the war waged by the Mexicans -- 12. Of Izcoatl, the fourth king, and the war against the Tepanecas -- 13. Of the battle the Mexicans fought with the Tepanecas and the great victory they achieved -- 14. Of the war and victory of the Mexicans over the city of Coyoacan -- 15. Of the war and victory that the Mexicans won over the Xochimilcans -- 16. Of Moctezuma, fifth king of the Mexicans, first of this name -- 17. How Tlacaelel refused to be king and the election and deeds of Tizoc -- 18. Of the death of Tlacaelel and the exploits of Axacayatl, seventh king of Mexico -- 19. Of the exploits of Ahuitzotl, eighth king of Mexico -- 20. Of the election of the great Moctezuma, last king of Mexico -- 21. How Moctezuma ordered the service of his household and the war he waged for his coronation -- 22. Of Moctezuma's habits and great state -- 23. Of the strange omens and prodigies that appeared in Mexico before its empire perished -- 24. Of the news that Moctezuma received of the Spaniards who had reached his country and the embassy that he sent them -- 25. Of the Spaniards' entry into Mexico -- 26. Of the death of Moctezuma and the Spaniards' departure from the City of Mexico -- 27. Of some miracles that God has performed in the Indies in favor of the Faith, beyond the merits of those who brought them to pass -- 28. And last. Of the plan ordained by Providence in the Indies for the entry of the Christian religion there |
| Summary |
The Natural and Moral History of the Indies, the classic work of New World history originally published by José de Acosta in 1590, is now available in the first new English translation to appear in several hundred years. A Spanish Jesuit, Acosta produced this account by drawing upon his own observations as a missionary in Peru and Mexico, as well as the writings of other missionaries, naturalists, and soldiers who explored the region during the sixteenth century. One of the first comprehensive investigations of the New World, Acosta's study is strikingly broad in scope. He describes the region's natural resources, flora and fauna, and terrain. He also writes in detail about the Amerindians and their religious and political practice |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index |
| Notes |
Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002. http://purl.oclc.org/DLF/benchrepro0212 MiAaHDL |
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Print version record |
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digitized 2010 HathiTrust Digital Library committed to preserve pda MiAaHDL |
| Subject |
Acosta, José de, 1540-1600 -- Travel -- America
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| SUBJECT |
Acosta, José de, 1540-1600 fast |
| Subject |
Indians of Mexico -- Early works to 1800
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Indians of South America -- Early works to 1800
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Natural history -- America
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HISTORY -- Latin America -- General.
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HISTORY -- Latin America -- South America.
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Indians of Mexico
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Indians of South America
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Natural history
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Travel
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Etnografie.
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Indianen.
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| SUBJECT |
America -- Early works to 1600
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America -- Description and travel. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85004235
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| Subject |
America
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| Genre/Form |
Early works
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| Form |
Electronic book
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| Author |
Mangan, Jane E., 1969- editor.
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Mignolo, Walter, writer of introduction.
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López-Morillas, Frances M., translator.
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| LC no. |
2001059859 |
| ISBN |
9780822383932 |
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0822383934 |
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128306412X |
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9781283064125 |
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