On a New Interpretation of Comanche Social Organization

Gelo, Daniel J.; Thurman, Melburn D.

doi:10.1086/203558

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“…Recognizing the decentralized nature of the Comanches' bands, a number of scholars have tried to identify the mechanisms used by the community to link its disparate bands in order to maintain coherence as a political entity ( Gelo 1986( Gelo , 1987( Gelo , 2000Kavanagh 1996;Thurman 1980Thurman , 1987. Gelo and Thurman perceived the presence of overlooked centralizing structures, such as religion (Gelo 1987) or emergent military societies (Thurman 1987). Focusing on the rituals and symbols of the Comanches, Gelo (1987: 553, 557) noted that these served as material expressions of unifying religious beliefs.…”

Section: Descriptive Accounts Of the Comanchesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three Nations, One Place

McCollough¹

2004

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During Spain's colonial era (1689-1821) in the Southern Plains, Native Americans in the region encountered new material goods, religious ideas, political economies, and exposure to deadly diseases. If communities managed to survive the devastating effects of epidemics, then access to utilitarian metal objects, :firearms, and horses became politically and economically critical to the continued stability of Native societies. Locations of trade routes, and colonial trading posts, as well as the political ability of Native peoples to navigate the colonial landscape, all played a dominant role in determining whether an indigenous nation successfully obtained those commodities necessary to its survival and prosperity. Two other important factors also affected access to trade goods: exposure to epidemics and the trading policies instituted in the region by colonial governments. Continual epidemics, particularly those associated with typhoid, smallpox, and measles, decimated entire indigenous populations (Thornton 1987: 44-45). For example, numerous Native nations located along the lower Rio Grande and the upper coast of Texas succumbed to the relentless epidemics sweeping the region (Aten 1983;

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Section: Descriptive Accounts Of the Comanchesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three Nations, One Place

McCollough¹

2004

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On a New Interpretation of Comanche Social Organization

Cited by 1 publication

References 0 publications

Three Nations, One Place

Three Nations, One Place

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