San Antonio de Béxar: A Community on New Spain's Northern Frontier

by Jesús F. de la Teja

This award-winning history explores eighteenth-century San Antonio de Béxar, a community on the periphery of Spain's North American frontier. From this struggling settlement eventually developed modern San Antonio, Texas. In spite of isolation and neglect, many of the settlers, veterans of frontier colonies farther south, founded San Antonio on centuries-old institutions. Although the colonists often feuded with one another in the early years, frontier political and economic forces molded them into a single community by the end of the eighteenth century.

Crisp prose, vivid descriptions, and strong archival documentation make this community study accessible to students and of interest to scholars.

Genres: History

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1996

Reviews

[Raymond Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the interesting aspects of early San Antonio history is the practice of water management.
Very well done,

[Starbubbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

fairly dry history of san antonio. dives into social heirachies, military and missionary involvement, immigration, native american relations, and economics. but just doesn't seem to inspire more questions about colonial san antonio. it was del la teja's first book ages ago, plus he was nice enough to sign it for me. i just wish more of this interesting man was in this telling of san antonio.