From the author of Lakota America, an award-winning historical work about the rise and fall of the vast and imposing Comanche empire.

“A subversive and contemporary western history.” — Larry McMurtry, New York Review of Books

“A landmark study that will make readers see the history of the southwestern United States in an entirely new way.” — David J. Weber, author of Bárbaros

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, an Indian empire emerged to dominate the fiercely contested regions of the American Southwest, the Southern Great Plains, and northern Mexico. This formidable empire, created by the Comanche Indians, overshadowed its various European rivals in military capacity, political power, economic influence, and cultural impact. However, until now, the Comanche empire had remained unrecognized in American history.

This fascinating and original book uncovers the lost history of the Comanche. A story that challenges the notion of Native Americans as victims of European expansion and offers a new model for understanding the history of colonial expansion, colonial frontiers, and Native-European relations in North America and beyond. Pekka Hämäläinen shows in vivid detail how the Comanche created their unique empire and resisted European colonization, and why they suffered defeat in 1875. With extensive knowledge and deep understanding, the author captures the impressive impact of the Comanche on the course of history.

Pages: 512, Year of Publication: 0626, Dimensions: 15.6x15.6cm