The Caste War of Yucat?n: Revised Edition

This is the classic account of one of the most dramatic episodes in Mexican history—the revolt of the Maya Indians of Yucatán against their white and mestizo oppressors that began in 1847. Within a year, the Maya rebels had almost succeeded in driving their oppressors from the peninsula; by 1855, when the major battles ended, the war had killed or put to flight almost half of the population of Yucatán. A new religion built around a Speaking Cross supported their independence for over fifty years, and that religion survived the eventual Maya defeat and continues today.

This revised edition is based on further research in the archives and in the field, and draws on the research by a new generation of scholars who have labored since the books original publication 36 years ago. One of the most significant results of this research is that it has put a human face on much that had heretofore been treated as semi-mythical.

Reviews of the First Edition

“Reed has not only written a fine account of the caste war, he has also given us the first penetrating analysis of the social and economic systems of Yucatán in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.”

—American Historical Review

“In this beautifully written history of a little-known struggle between several contending forces in Yucatán, Reed has added an important dimension to anthropological studies in this area.”

—American Anthropologist

“Not only is this exciting history (as compelling and dramatic as the best of historical fiction) but it covers events unaccountably neglected by historians. . . . This is a brilliant contribution to history. . . . Dont miss this book.”

—Los Angeles Times

“One of the most remarkable books about Latin America to appear in years.”

—Hispanic American Report

"One of the most remarkable books about Latin America to appear in years."—Hispanic American Report

"Exciting history as compelling and dramatic as the best of historical fiction. . . . Don't miss this book."—Los Angeles Times

"In this beautifully written history of a little-known struggle between several contending forces in Yucatán, Reed has added an important dimension to anthropological studies in this area."—American Anthropologist

"All academic and many public libraries have copies of Reed's 1964 classic in Latin American History, a masterfully narrated study of one of the longest and most successful of Indian rebellions. . . . Now, he has revised his book, and in over 100 additional pages incorporated the most important of the new research. . . . This updated edition of Reed's history will remain an essential and widely read overview of a fascinating chapter in New World history. All levels and collections."—Choice

"All academic and many public libraries have copies of Reed's 1964 classic in Latin American History, a masterfully narrated study of one of the longest and most successful of Indian rebellions. . . . Now, he has revised his book, and in over 100 addition

Reviews of the First Edition

“Reed has not only written a fine account of the caste war, he has also given us the first penetrating analysis of the social and economic systems of Yucatan in the 19th and 20th centuries.”—American Historical Review

“Exciting history as compelling and dramatic as the best of historical fiction. . . . Dont miss this book.”—Los Angeles Times

Revised edition of the classic account of one of the most dramatic episodes in Mexican history.

This is the classic account of one of the most dramatic episodes in Mexican history—the revolt of the Maya Indians of Yucatán against their white and mestizo oppressors that began in 1847.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [401]-414) and index.

Nelson Reed is an independent scholar who is a longtime student of Yucatecan history and Mississippian archaeology.

List of maps and illustrations; Foreword; Prefaces; Part I. The Two World of Yucatán: 1. The Ladino world; 2. The Mazehual world; Part II. The Caste War: 3. Revolt, 1847-1848; 4. The crisis, 1848; 5. Landino recovery, 1848-1849; 6. Stalemate, 1949-1850; 7. The coming of the cross, 1850-1852; 8. A campaign to end the war, 1852-1855; Part III. The Speaking Cross: 9. Venancio Puc, 1855-1863; 10. The Acereto brigade, 1860; 11. Coup and countercoup, 1861-1863; 12. An empire and the cross, 1863-1866; 13. The empire of the cross, 1867-1895; 14. Generals Porfirio Díaz and Ignacio Bravo, 1879-1910; 15. Francisco May, 1912-1969; 16. Yucatán revisited, 1912-1996; Postscript, 1959; Post-Postscript, 1997, Glossary; Maya political and religious leaders; Chronology; Notes; Bibliography; Index.