Rereading the Conquest

James Krippner-Martínez presents a rigorous examination of sixteenth-century Spanish conquest and evangelization in Rereading the Conquest, Volume 1. This scholarly work in history and historiography combines social history with literary criticism to challenge traditional, celebratory interpretations of missionary activity in early colonial Mexico. By applying a poststructuralist method to contemporaneous documents regarding Michoacán, the author uncovers moments of doubt and contradiction that deconstruct standard conquest narratives. The text analyzes the complex interplay of religion and politics through primary sources, including the trial records of the indigenous ruler Cazonci and the writings of Bishop Vasco de Quiroga.

The second half of Rereading the Conquest, Volume 1, shifts toward reflections on how these historical figures are remembered in later eras. This study of Latin American history explores the late eighteenth-century Crónica de Michoacán and critiques modern debates regarding the colonialist legacy. This volume serves as a significant resource for researchers interested in the history of Mexico and the evolving writing of colonial records.