The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 36, 1649-1666 Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century.

This volume opens a vivid window onto the Philippines in the mid‑1600s, stitching together maps, sketches and official reports that bring the archipelago’s bustling ports, fledgling fortifications and distant islands to life. Readers can trace the contours of Cavite’s defenses, follow a Dutch artist’s chart of Luzón, and glimpse the ceremonial grandeur surrounding a Spanish crown prince’s funeral—each image accompanied by concise commentary that situates the scenes within the broader colonial landscape.

Beyond the visuals, the text delves into the tangled world of missionary activity and early governance. Jesuit letters and memorials reveal their pleas for more clergy, resources and even an Inquisition tribunal, while rival Dominican ambitions spark heated disputes over university status. The narrative also touches on the 1662 Chinese revolt and the hardships that strained the islands’ economy, offering a balanced picture of religious zeal, political maneuvering, and the everyday challenges faced by the people of the Eastern Archipelago.