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Glossary |
| Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 |
Gold-seeking explorers hurried through Arizona. They claimed a lot of land for Spain. Catholic priests from Spain traveled with the explorers. The priests mapped the new lands. They wrote about the Native Americans in their diaries.
The Priests taught the Native Americans about Jesus. They were missionaries who tried to convert the Indians to the Catholic religion. Priests helped Spain claim a lot of land. They became friends with some Indian groups. They could sometimes go where soldiers were not welcome.
Hopi Reject First Spanish Missionaries
There were two groups of Catholic priests in Arizona.- the Jesuits and the Franciscans. Jesuits priests came into Arizona from New Mexico, but the Hopi showed no interest at fist. Then the priests healed a blind boy. For a while the Hopi believed the new religion, but then jealous medicine men poisoned the priest. Other priests came to live among the Hopi. The Hopi had their own beliefs and wanted to live their own way of life.
The Hopi rejection of the priests affected Arizona's history. It meant that Northern Arizona would not be settled by people from New Mexico, where many Franciscan missionaries were. Instead, Southern Arizona was settled by priests, soldiers, and other people who came for the south.
Father Kino
Father Kino was one of the most important men in Arizona history. He was the first successful missionary in the region called the Primera Alta. He explored this region and made many maps.
Father Kino was born in Italy. In school he studied math, astronomy, and map making. When he was a young man, he got very sick and almost died. After many prayers to help him get well, he wanted to be a priest. he was sent across the ocean to Mexico as a missionary. Then he was sent to Arizona.
Father Kino loved the Indian people. he worked hard, and he was kind and gentle. A priest who worked with Father Kino said, "He never had more than two shirts because he gave everything to the Indians."
Missions
Father Kino set up many missions. One mission he set up was at the Indian village of Bac. He named it San Xavier del Bac. Most missions had a simple adobe church with a beautiful carved altar. Indians did the hard work of building the missions. They used wood and saguaro cactus for the ribs for roof beams. They also used wood for the doors, furniture, and for shutters that could b closed over the windows when there was a storm.
View a picture of San Xavier del Bac
Indian families sometimes lived in or near the missions. Father Kino taught the Catholic religion to the Pima and Tohono O'odham. He also taught them new ways to farm. They learned how to plant new grains and fruit trees. They also learned to raise cattle, sheep, and horses. They rounded up animals in Mexico and brought them to the missions.
An Honored Man
Father Kino died in new Spain. Stories say he died on a bed of two calfskins for a mattress and two Indian blankets for his covers. His saddle was his pillow. Over 250 years later, the people of Arizona honored Father Kino by putting his statue in the capital building in Washington, D.C.
