A History of the Philippines (Illustrated)

I found this book to be very enlightening. I had started reading Noli me Tangere, by Jose Rizal, and found myself asking what happened in Philippines before this, to cause the circumstances described by Jose Rizal. The book filled in all the blanks of nearly 400 years of occupation and the attempted conquests of the Philippine people by various European countries, and finally of the United States. Because this book was first published in 1905, it left out most modern history from the 20th century to today, but did a fine job of covering the early explorers that created the atmosphere that existed in the Philippines and the world at the time of Jose Rizal's Noli me Tangere.

The book has little value for understanding the modern history of the Philippines. It is a reprint of an old textbook employed by the Americans in the Philippines soon after the American occupation. However, it may be of interest as an example of how the American's presented the history of the islands.

A good book and interesting to read. Since I have traveled there several times I wanted to learn more about the history. This was a good book to increase my knowledge of the country.

Very exhaustive details of precolonial / colonial period.

Copyright 1905.Relates Philippine history to worldwide events such as how the reformation movement influenced Catholicism in the Philippines and how Columbus's discovery of the Americas influenced exploration in Asia.

Broad strokes covering 400 years of Philippine history as a colonial nation. Predominantly covers Spanish rule from start to finish and culminates at the first decade of the twentieth century as an American colony.

Good reference material if you want to learn about the Philippines and her history. Also a good reference for college students or simply anyone who cares about Philippines.

An account of history in the Pacific that was quick, informative and entertaining. I will look for more writing by David Barrows.