The Early History of Cuba: 1492-1586, Written from Original Sources (Classic Reprint)

This book is the history of Cuba from its discovery by Columbus in 1492, through the year 1586, whenS ir Francis Drake, in sailing along the north shore of the island after his successful raid on otherS panish settlements of theW est I ndies, closed the first era of the colonys history. In that raid the great corsair demonstrated that Britannia ruled the waves of theS panish main and that to hold possession of its shores and islets the Catholic King must enable his colonies there to defend themselves since his humbled navy was no longer equal to the task. Immediately Philip acted and there arose great forts, inH avana as elsewhere, which are enduring monuments toD raque, hated byS paniards to this day! In the safe shadow of these forts, industry and agriculture began to develop and, thanks especially to sugar and to copper, Cuba ceased to be a mere wayport of empire between the peninsula of Spain and the American continents: she came to be prized not only because of her geographical position (of great strategic importance) but also upon her own account for her own inherent worth.
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)

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