Flood Tide of Empire: Spain and the Pacific Northwest, 1543-1819 (Yale Western Americana #24)

Hardcover Cloth 620 pages with maps. Condition Very Good Dust Jacket Very Good. Presumed First edition 1973. Handsome black boards and gilt embossing shows off this Clean, tight, square copy with no marks, highlights or bookplates. Book Well kept and carefully stored in unread condition. Slight shelf wear. Bumped corners. Edges have the usual yellowing and spotting. Price clipped is discolored with age showing the usual shelf wear - tears, scrapes, stains, scratches, wrinkles and chips. Not an ex-library, book club or remainder copy.

In the annals of exploration, Spain's forays into the Pacific Northwest remain a captivating saga. Warren L. Cook's meticulous research delves into this historical tapestry, weaving together narratives of daring voyages, territorial rivalries, and strategic maneuvering. Most of this impressive work focuses on the eighteenth century, but Professor Cook introduces his main theme with an enlightening discussion of Spain's activities in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

As Spanish explorers navigated the treacherous waters of the North Pacific, they encountered indigenous peoples, charted coastlines, and vied for dominance. The inevitable confrontation between England and Spain took place, giving rise to the celebrated Nootka Sound Controversy of 1790.

Professor Cook shows that Spain became more active on the Northwest Coast after the Nootka dispute than before it. And although both Spain and England agreed to evacuate Nootka in 1795, Spain did not lose interest in the area, which she obviously considered of vital strategic importance for the defense of Mexico.

Following his discussion of Spanish explorations in the Northwest Pacific, the author transfers his attention to land expeditions based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. These expeditions were designed to prevent Americans from finding an overland route to the Pacific. Spain did her best to stop the Lewis and Clark expedition, and Professor Cook breaks new ground in discussing her attempts to do so.

Surmising that the Facundo Melgares expedition from Santa Fe in 1806 was aimed at Lewis and Clark, he sheds light on Spain's strategic efforts to maintain control over the vast territories of the Pacific Northwest. Through meticulous archival research, Cook uncovers the complexities of Spain's imperial ambitions and the challenges posed by rival powers.